Customer Reviews

Dreaming of You

5 star:		(140)
4 star:		(19)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(9)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

Sara Fielding, a proper, if somewhat eccentric, country-bred English gentlewoman, is also a well-known writer of popular fiction. Her first novel, "Mathilda," is beloved by most who can read. Ms. Fielding has traveled to London to research the underworld of gambling for her latest book. Venturing into the London stews late one evening, and taking copious notes on Cockney street cant, local color and any noteworthy incidents that might add flavor to her fiction, Sara inadvertently witnesses and interrupts a violent stabbing. She pulls out the pistol she carries for protection, (target-shooting at home in Greenwood Corners is a necessary hobby, obviously). She shoots one of the attackers, meaning only to wound, while another escapes. Thus, 25 year old Sara Fielding saves the life of Derek Craven.

Mr. Craven is the fabulously wealthy owner of London's most exclusive gambling club. He is a self-made man and wheels and deals with the most powerful people in England. In a world where knowledge is power, he has knowledge of exactly how much money the wealthy and landed possess; who owes what to whom; who is on the verge of bankruptcy, etc.. Craven was born destitute, however, and his prostitute mother abandoned him soon after the birth. Pimps, prostitutes & criminals raised him in the darkest of city slums, & he managed to survive by becoming as ruthless as he needed to be. Cynicism is Mr. Craven's middle name and money is what he believes in. Any tender feelings or emotions he might have had, or hoped to have, he buried deep inside of himself where they can never be found. Love is weakness and weakness is to be despised. Get the picture? So, Derek has little patience for anyone or anything that does not serve his ends. I might add here, for the sake of us romance readers...yes, he also happens to be handsome and a hunk, in a rough, virile sort of way. :) Anyway, he does owe Sara his life...& he is Mr. Gambling King...and she is doing research on gambling...so they get to hang out! Yes, her lovely innocence gets to him...although he resists mightily. And the adventures begin, as does a most wonderful love story.

Both Derek and Sara are fabulous characters, and more complex than I can begin to describe. Sara is a riot doing research after midnight in the most horrible neighborhoods you can imagine. Derek is so tough and so determined not to feel anything, EVER! There is a lively cast of "others", plot twists, humor, and super, steamy sex.

I truly don't know how Lisa Kleypas does it. Another writer might have turned this story into a hackneyed romance. Ms. Kleypas has made magic. This one is a keeper!!

Novelist Sara Fielding is a woman trapped between her current persona of the proper, innocent, English maid and the adventerous hoyden lying dormant just beneath the surface. She meets our hero by saving his life thus thrusting herself into the scandelous underworld of gambling, prostitution, and debauchery....and our hero is the King of it all.

Derek Craven's spiritual candle is growing dim. He feels himself soiled and beyond redeemption. He shields his fragile heart well and finds it alarming when this English Miss upsets his precarious balance.

Standard romance novel right? Well in a way yes, but Kleypas gives me what I want...and that is to remember falling in love. The heated embraces, the blushes, the struggle to forgive yourself enough to feel worthy of love are all captured beautifully in this book.

I have read this book at least 4 times now. It doesn't get old. (I like to read a couple of oldies but goodies everytime the author comes out with a new book...It Happened one Autumn was great by the way)

Sara Fielding is a published writer, made popular by one of her best and most renowned works called Mathilda. She is visiting London to do research on her latest work about a man who runs a gambling club. One night, Sara witnesses two men beating up another man. Once she realizes that they mean to kill him, she pulls out her gun and shoots one of the men. The man she just saved is Derek Craven, owner of one of London's most exclusive gambling clubs.

Derek is a lost and damaged soul. Raised by a number of prostitutes, Derek literally clawed his way out of the slums and became one of the wealthiest men in England. Derek's past, however, continues to haunt him. He has surrounded himself with wealth and power in order to protect himself from the harsh realities he had to endure as a child, and have also kept everyone else at arm's length; never allowing anyone to get too close to him.

Their meeting that fateful night will change the course of their lives. Sara and Derek have to get past their fears and insecurities to love each other. Sara struggles with confidence and her place in the world. Through Derek, she learns her value as a woman and as a talented writer. Similarly, Sara's love eventually destroys the walls that Derek built around his heart, and brings healing to his soul.

Derek is such a great character. You can almost feel the pain he's gone through and what it's taken him to get as far as he has. He has come far but still denies himself the love he craves so desperately because he feels he doesn't deserve it.

This book is easy to read but also bittersweet. It's also fairly fast-paced so you'll find it difficult to put down.

I really enjoyed this book. It was great from the first chapter. Derek, a man who grew up in the streets among thiefs, prostitutes, etc. becomes a wealthy man as the owner of an exclusive gaming club. Sara is a writer who wants to learn all she can about gaming clubs to add to her next book. He doesn't feel he's good enough for her and therefore does not allow himself to get close to her. She loves him and want him to "show her what love is all about" but he refuses to allow her to "settle for someone like him". I absolutely love books where the man feels he's unworthy of his lady love. The ending was so touching it made me want to cry. A perfect match as Derek and Sara needed each other...for their own particular reasons. They completed each other. This is the sequel to "Then Came You". I didn't read that one first as I was unaware and I will read it anyway but if you want them in the correct order...

Sara Fielding is a young author who likes to write about the seedier side of life; the gambling, prostitutes and thieves. Out one night researching her next book in a bad part of town she rescues notorious gambling house owner, Derek Craven, when he is being attacked by two men.

Derek Craven was born and then left abandoned in a drainage ditch. Raised by a handful of prostitutes, he is no stranger to the side of life that Sara is researching or writing about. He reluctantly allows her access to his club, which is usually restricted to mostly men, for research purposes and becomes smitten with her. However, she is probably the most genuine lady he has ever met, and as such feels he is unworthy of her.

Although Sara is as sweet as she is innocent, she is also not a doormat. She is a strong and compassionate heroine who is also amazingly resourceful. She wasn't whiny or simpering, she was intelligent and fun. Derek has struggled to rise above his upbringing, he has never fully accepted that he is better than the gutter from which he came. He has multiple layers to his complicated personality, making him an intriguing and commanding lead. Together they compliment each other perfectly, two very different people who make a fabulous couple.

This is one of my sister's all time favorite historicals and she finally strong armed me into reading it. After enjoying it so much, I am sorry I waited so long to read this book, it easily became one of my favorites. There are challenges and obstacles right up into the end that make this book a page turner. What I liked most about this book is usually as soon as the happily ever after happens, the book is over. That is not the case with this story, instead we get a rare glimpse into the 'after' of the happily ever after. This was a wonderful book and I am sure I will revisit the characters again. Enjoy!

Then Came You

Cherise Everhard, February 2008

Thank God - a story where neither character belongs to the Ton! That alone makes it somewhat unique. The other is the storyline. Derek Craven is a product of his society, but has risen above his ciscumstances and become fabulously wealthy. He is ruthless, hard, disillusioned and cynical. Along comes Sara - curious, intelligent and an eternal optimist. She is not blind to Derek's faults, but falls in love with him and proves to be his redemption. Derek recognises what he needs from Sara as well, and although he tries to resist it at first, he eventually realises what she means to him.

Derek is by no means a rake who can easily be transformed by true love. He is a man who has abased himself tremendously in his relentless pursuit to leave the gutter behind, and he views himself as unworthy of Sara's love. Her strong, patient character is the perfect foil, and the conclusion leaves you knowing that this love will last. A beautiful book.

I read this book before "Then came you", I didn't know it was a sequel. I think I would have enjoyed it more if I had read the books in order.
For one thing, it took me a while to warm up to Derek's character. I know this is somewhat prejudicial, but I was a little put off by the way he talks and a little shocked by the things he had done in his past. I know those details make the character more real,and in any case, I shouldn't hold it against him because he was forced by circumstances. In the end I got to admire him for this, but admitedly, he is not your usual romance novel hero.
Another thing that bothered me a little was the way Sara acts. One day her only interest in Derek is to research his club for her novel. The next day she is trying to seduce him and willing to throw away everything and surrender her virginity to him. Then she goes back to her village and intends to go on with her previous life and her moron of a fiance. But when she learns that Derek is in love with her, and later when she meets him again, suddenly, she is in love with him and wants to marry him. I think the development of their relationship was a little rushed and not very well explained. It didn't seem to me that Sara missed Derek very much while she was away, after all she didn't expect to see him ever again, and wasn't terribly devastated by that fact.
But after their re-encounter in Lily's house, I started to enjoy the book more, I think that's where the story really took off (too bad this doesn't happen until about half of the book) and towards the end, I really loved the story.
All in all, the book is a good read, but make sure you read "Then Came You" first.

This is my third Lisa Kleypas book and it's the best I have read so far. I bought the book because of the many reviewers who were mad about the hero Derek Craven. They are right. He really is a wonderful hero! "Handsome, tough and tenacious Cockney, he rose from poverty to become lord of London's most exclusive gambling house-a struggle that has left Derek Craven fabulously wealthy, but hardened and suspicious" praises him the back of the book cover. Unlike so many other tormented and world-weary rogues in a romance novel Derek really has a substantial reason for being the way he is. And it needs a warm-hearted, sensitive and spirited woman like Sarah to bring out the best him. Derek feels not worthy for Sarah not because she is beautiful and highborn (the paramours he usually has are all blue-blooded and real stunners) which she isn't, but because she is the only real lady he has ever met. A lady who possesses all the qualities we look out for in a friend and a lover. But Sarah is no saint like Melanie in Gone with the wind, she is also a sensual woman with a liking for adventure. When she meets Derek for the first time she is doing research work for a book, and he is in serious trouble. She helps him and saves his life, but he is not very grateful for it in the beginning. He is not at all willing to let Sarah have a look at his gambling house, and doesn't appreciate that his employees enthusiastically show Sarah around. Yet he is not unaffected by her. Slowly he falls in love with Sarah but of course does not admit it, not even to himself. He even tries to marry Sarah off to another man two times which is of course bound to fail. The road to happiness for them is long and winded. The end is the most touching one I have read in a romance novel without being too cheesy. I especially liked the epilogue. This really happens seldom but I can thoroughly recommend this book for everyone who likes romance novels.

This is my all-time favorite Lisa Kleypas book with Where Dreams Begin coming a close second. Where most regency romances focus on the English Aristocracy, Kleypas focuses on characters who are not of noble blood. The hero, Derek, is a self made man who was raised in poverty. He struggles fiercely to succeed, and his struggles pay off. He is a successful owner of a gaming hall and very wealthy. The heroine, Sara, is a country girl who has made a success of herself as a writer.

I just loved these two characters. Derek is a hard man, but when he loves, he loves completely and fiercely. He is not the typical "hardened" hero. He has done some very dehumanizing things while struggling to get out of the gutter where he was born, and he doesn't think he is good enough for Sara. Sara is not the typical fiesty heroine but the girl has a backbone and she will not give up. When she decides she wants Derek, the man doesn't stand a chance. I loved reading about these two coming to love each other, and the ending made me cry. Kleypas captures emotion so well, and she makes her characters seem like real people. If you like Lisa Kleypas, Dreaming of You is a must read.

There is simply not much more to say about this book that hasn't been said by other reviewers except it is as close to a perfect romance historical as they get and Derek is THE perfect hero.

I honestly can't get enough of this pair.

While there are many similar heroes with a dark past and a tortured soul who are all that and a bag of chips there is just something about Derek that makes him simply stand out from the rest. It's not his troubled past and his horrible childhood but rather the way he carries himself. Yes many heroes are suave, cool and in control of their emotions but Derek takes this and turns it into an art form. The way he carries himself, the way he talks, the way he interacts with Sarah as well as Lilly and his employees, the man oozes personality like no other hero ever has. Even when he crumbles (as tortured heroes are bound to do) he is on a league of his own. In fact he doesn't say much then and even in his undoing he is unlike any other hero who tend to become a little childish at that point. If James Bonds were ever to have a moment of weakness I suppose he would look as suave and still as cool as Derek did. Nobody else will come close.

Of course Sara is just divine as the heroine and you can't help but love her. She is EXACTLY what Derek needed and thank god she isn't some over the top bratish heroine. She is sweet, endearing, and oh so darn lovable you immediately fall in love with her as well.

I trully hope that Mrs Kleypas will bring them out once more in her last upcoming Wallflower series book. I'd hate to think we've seen or heard the last of this wonderful couple. We need to know how old age is treating them!lol