Stuff Dreams Are Made of: A Novelvolume 2

by Don Bruns

Book Overview

While their last venture was hardly crowned with success, James Lessor and Skip Moore, (and their white box truck) are back. When Reverend Preston Cashdollar and his traveling tent revival come to town, James and Skip reinvent themselves--as holy rollers. But these two aren't seeking salvation; they're seeking the Almighty dollar. After all, Cashdollar's prosperity gospel draws thousands of people with open minds-and open wallets. With a few modifications...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1933515163
• ISBN13: 9781933515168
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Oceanview Publishing
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.1" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Great read, don't miss it

James and Skip are back in Stuff Dreams Are Made Of. We originally met them in Stuff To Die For. James convinces Skip to join him on a money-making venture. They set up a white box truck as a moving kitchen. The two man go to the Reverend Preston Cashdollar's Weekend Tent Revival with thousands of people in attendance. James and Skip are planning on raking in the money by selling people something to eat. Unfortunately, they are not the only ones with the idea; other vendors are already lined up. The first night goes well. They are invited to join the other vendors for a night of beer and poker. As usual, things don`t go well for our main characters. Someone has stolen their night's receipts and vandalized their truck. They hear talk concerning murders and other suspicious happenings. They`re told to mind their own business and to leave the camp grounds. The two amateur sleuths are determined to get to the bottom of this. These two men are certainly not Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. This is not your typical mystery. The characters make this book. James and Skip are bumbling idiots. Their ineptness will keep the reader laughing and intrigued. They are very likable characters. The plot is interesting. This is a great read, don't miss it.

For fun, not for deep thinking

The adventures of Skip and James are very much light weight frolics. This one is centered around a religious revival where the boys are cooking burgers for the huge crowds attending and quickly gets them involved with a number of very devious characters. Bodies fall fairly fast and furious at the end, but it's basically all for fun and worth your time.

Fun to read

Best friends Skip and James are packing up the `ol white box truck and setting out to find their fortune. James has found the perfect scheme to make lots of money. He's outfitted the truck with a small kitchen and the two sweet, but somewhat bumbling, companions will sell food at Reverend Preston Cashdollar's traveling tent revival. The revival will be in town for three nights and with up to 2,000 people attending each night, James assures Skip that they can't miss, "...we could make a fortune." Skip agrees to participate and soon the two have set up their truck at Cashdollar's revival. When the meeting ends, swarms of customers push their way to the truck to purchase overpriced hamburgers and brats. The business is a huge success and after the first night's rush is over, the friends head over to another vendor's truck for a friendly game of poker. Life seems to have turned around for Skip and James until they start asking questions. First, Skip is curious if the rumor that Cabrina Washington, a 17-year-old murder victim, was really the girlfriend of the good reverend. Then there is the mysterious death of a fellow vendor, the death of a US senator and the shooting of a popular conservative radio host - all of whom had some connection to Cashdollar. The questions are asked during after-hours poker games to the full-timers (vendors who travel with Cashdollar and appear to be at his beck and call). Not long afterwards, the boys' luck changes. Their earnings are stolen, they return to their truck to find all four tires slashed, and they receive a threatening note. Instead of running, Skip and James dig in their heels and search for clues. Stuff Dreams Are Made Of is a fun romp into the world of "holy rollers" who preach salvation through the Almighty Dollar. The writing is crisp, the pace of the story brisk, and the personalities of Skip and James well-developed. For those who like lots of twists and turns in their `whodunit' novels, this story delivers several, including FBI taps, betrayals, and the lengths people will go to make money. Although some of the escapades stretch the imagination a bit (can these people really be that slow?), the reader is likely to develop a fondness for the main characters. Will they get to the bottom of Cashdollar's empire and solve the murders? More importantly, will Skip and James escape with their lives? Quill says: A bit improbable but a lot of fun to read.

Adorable, funny, entertaining and endearing

Reviewed by Gina Holland for RebeccasReads (1/09) If you read the book, "Stuff To Die For" then you must read "Stuff Dreams Are Made Of." The hilarious twosome of James Lessor and Skip Moore are back in this seriously funny novel. This is the second installment book in on Bruns's Moore or Less series. This time, the dynamic duo tries their luck at catering with their big white truck. They run across a Reverend, Preston Cashdollar, who tricks them into giving money instead of making it. They are truly shocked by what they find themselves getting into and they realize they are in the middle of something really strange. "Stuff Dreams Are Made Of" shows religious people being easily swayed into doing things they normally wouldn't do. Bruns shows how easy it is for the Reverend to manipulate and use people's beliefs and faith to take their money. Don Bruns, has a wonderful sense of humor. I found this book to be very well written; it's one of those books that you read and then can't wait for the next one to come out. I didn't want to stop reading it; t was that good! I applaud Mr. Bruns for writing this second novel and I certainly suggest that everyone go out, get this book and read it. I love authors who can mix murder and mayhem, but can add a touch of hilarity. I definitely look forward to Mr. Bruns writing a continuing series of this crazy and funny detective team. I can't imagine what else they could get into in the future. I give this one a thumb up! Way to go Mr. Bruns!

A most fun detective team gives you laughs and solves crimes

James Lessor and Skip Moore are back and they are well, not bigger than ever, and definitely not smarter than ever. They're just back in this hilarious satirical mystery Stuff Dreams Are Made Of. The second installment in Don Bruns' Moore or Less series, the dynamic duo try their luck at catering. They bring their large white truck to the revival of Rev. Preston Cashdollar (yes that's his name), and think they will make a few bucks. Instead, they get involved with the murder of a senator, a suspicious group of full timers,(see note below) and a long-ago mystery that Skip has a personal tie to. Stuff Dreams Are Made Of is a funny and winning book filled with great lines, mostly provided Skip's sardonic narration. On the unfortunate name of their company, Moore or Less Catering, Skip remarks "It was James' idea not mine. His name is Lessor, mine is Moore so he thought it would be clever to...well it was his idea!" The two make a unique detective team, more like Abbot and Costello than Holmes and Watson, as they stumble upon body after body-and angry people with guns. They usually don't find out anything unless it's in front of them, instead they spend most of the book trying to stay alive. Nevertheless, they make a great team with very interesting idiosyncrasies. Everything from James' constant quoting of movie lines, to their endless need for money is explored, making them a very fun identifiable duo. The mystery plot is really solid and plays on the idea of revivals and religious types who use peoples' faith to get money. An interesting scene has the originally skeptical duo attend the meeting and are so swayed by Cashdollar's words that they end up donating money. Cashdollar and his cronies are a very suspicious bunch, more like mob hit men than Holy Rollers. The mystery itself is very tight with a slightly obvious ending, but nonetheless the whole book plays on religious satire and mocks the idea of revivals and people who look for something beyond themselves to believe in. NOTE: Full-timers were people who worked for Cashdollar's revivals by serving food or souveniers full time and were on call whenever he needed them. They were sort of his Brute Squad because they intimidated many of the newcomers like James and Skip and their friend, Daron Styles who worked at Cashdollar's revival before. Armchair Interviews says: Unique characters and situation makes for a very fun read.