Dream Fever [Paperback]

Katherine Sutcliffe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1991

From the author of Shadow Play, a tale of a broken man forced into exile in 19th-century New Zealand. But the arrival of Summer O'Neil heralds an end to Lord Nicholas Sabre's long winter of the soul--and a new beginning to his life. Summer helps Sabre battle against evil as she awakens his long-suppressed desires. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Readers who prefer their romance spiced with anguish and melodrama will take to Sutcliffe's ( Shadow Play ) tale of love between a plainspoken young Irish maid and a tortured, reclusive sheep-farming aristocrat. Nicholas Sabre was deported from England in 1861 when, duped by the woman he loved, he killed his rival in a duel. A few years later, Nick is just barely surviving--financially and emotionally--on his New Zealand sheep station when Summer O'Neilesp ok lands on his doorstep, claiming to be the proxy bride he sent for. Nick (who signed the proxy form when drunk) bluntly indicates he has no use for a wife but decides she can stay until shearing is finished; then she and the wool can be disposed of during a single trip to town. Summer, who has no life back in Britain, wants to remain and struggles to make herself useful, and Nick reluctantly warms to her kind, forgiving nature. But only when an escalating feud between farmers and Cockatoos (who, like Nick, raise sheep) threatens lives as well as property does Nick acknowledge his growing affection for the young woman.
Copyright 1991 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Katherine Sutcliffe is a multi-award winning USA Today National and International Bestselling author of twenty two historical and contemporary suspense novels and novellas from Avon Books, Signet Books, Berkley/Jove Books, Kensington Publishers, Zumaya Books, and Pocket Books. She has worked as Consultant Head Writer for the daytime dramas As The World Turns and Another World, playing herself in Another World. She has been featured in numerous genre magazines, major newspapers, TV Guide, and The Jenny Jones Show. Katherine’s release, Darkling I Listen (Sept, 2001) was a Rita finalist for Best Romantic Suspense, winner of the Dorothy Parker award for Best Contemporary and Romantic Suspense of the Year, GDRWA winner for Best Romantic Suspense, Francis Reader’s Award for Best Romantic Suspense, and RWA Kiss of Death finalist for Best Romantic Suspense. Watch for Katherine’s upcoming suspense novel, Bad Moon Rising, from Jove Books, June, 2003 --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback
• Publisher: Avon Books (Mm); First edition (November 1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038075942X
• ISBN-13: 978-0380759422
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,044,242 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Emotional, October 15, 2005

By 

E. Lynch "romance book fanatic" (Northern Virginia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dream Fever (Paperback)

Other reviewers have told the storyline so well that I will not re-hash it again.

The locale of this book was very interesting. I don't recall ever reading about New Zealand before. The conflict between the cattle farmers and sheep farmers was different though sometimes hard to follow. Descriptions of the scenery, etc... were detailed and captured my imagination.

As is true of the other Katherine Sutcliffe books I've read up until now, the romance was torturous and emotional. I realize that Nick was so traumatized by his dealings with women in his past that he could not trust anyone, but at times I felt so bad for Summer. She let Nick walk on her time and time again. As the bad times became worse, I began to wonder if anything could go right for her!

The other characters in this book were wonderful to meet. Right from the start you are sucked into their harsh yet beautiful country and lives. The men were rugged, yet had a sense of civility. The women strived to make life better for their husbands and children. You will especially enjoy Frank, the storytelling "ranch" hand of Nick's.

I read this in one day. It captured me right away. But the torment continued up until the end where it is finally resolved in a fairly satisfactory manner. OK, she forgave him one more time! For an enjoyable roller-coaster ride of emotion, it is worth picking up.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeper +, July 24, 2002

By 

TooManyHobbies "too_many_hobbies" (New Orleans, LA USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Dream Fever (Paperback)

They don't get much better than this. A feisty heroine, a brooding emotionally scared hero, and an exotic location.

The story revolves around Mr. Nicholas Winston Saber Esquire (the youngest son of the Earl of Chesterfield) who was exiled to New Zealand after killing another man in a duel over a woman's honor. He spends the next five years in an emotional prison, bitter with the world (women in particular), resentful of his father, and despising himself and everyone around him. He is eking out an existence on an isolated sheep farm, and one night during a bout of drinking, he is tricked into marrying (by proxy) a woman he has never met. His mail-order bride ends up being feisty Summer O'Neile who was forced to flee England to escape the consequences of an act of self-defense.

Summer travel to New Zealand and explodes into Nicholas' solitary world. She shatters the walls he has built up around himself, and also battles the accepted prejudices (farmers/cattleman vs. sheep herders) of a community. Summer falls deeply in love with her brooding, bitter husband (who she learns never really wanted a wife), and the more Nicholas tries to push her away, the more she worms her way into his heart.

If you can find a copy, get it. This is truly a unique love story.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Delightful from the start!, January 7, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: Dream Fever (Hardcover)

This book gets off to a roaring start and doesn't let up until the finish. It is a charming story of a man (Nicholas) who is intent on denying his growing affections for a feisty, engaging, outspoken young woman (Summer) who won't take no for an answer. Their battle of wits and emotions is both delightful and touching. Do not pass over the poem at the beginning of the book. I am now reading "Renegade Love" and although it is good, it does not move as swiftly as "Dream Fever". Try to find it since it's out of print.