Customer Reviews

House of Dreams

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(18)

 

 

In the space of 48 hours at an isolated estate, one woman dies, two go missing and the host's beloved wife - who vanished 8 years ago from the same house - is seen looking in a window.

Do you:

(a) contact the police

(b) organize a search

(c) take the children and leave

(d) gather in the library for drinks

(e) none of the above

If your answer is "d," you're too early by one murder. They don't gather in the library for drinks or consider getting the police involved, until a man is found stabbed to death on the property. Time to stop arguing and spring into action - almost! First, hors d'oevres.

Once in a while, you read something so awful you begin to enjoy it as comedy. I've chosen to believe that Brenda Joyce intended "House of Dreams" to be tongue-in-cheek. Which also explains why, when a character blurts out a cliff-hanger confession, accusation or other line that ought to ignite a big scene, the author usually skips that part and moves on.

I gave in to the laughter when, on the morning after a life-shattering confrontation between two sisters in love with one man, the good sister knocks on the other's bedroom door and chirps, "Wake up, lazybones!"

Be forewarned, there's not a likeable character or a credible moment in this whole mishmash. Then enjoy it for laughs, assuming you didn't pay big bucks for the unabridged audio CD. In which case, the joke is on you. (And me.)

Ms. Joyce tells a good tale, she just needs a good proofreader and needs to invest in and use a thesaurus.

The tale itself is a mixture of mystery, historical novel, and romance. The base of the story is that a woman who died 400 years ago is linked to two families. She feels that these two families betrayed her and she's still out to get them. The story mixes modern world with the story of this woman from 400 years in the past. Meanwhile, in modern times, you've got a pretty scary ghost story going on. The story itself is highly entertaining, as long as you don't pay attention to the details. Think of it as that highly entertaining, but critically unaclaimed movie that you watch just for fun. If you get caught up in the details that just aren't right, then make a game of it, because otherwise, it will make you crazy.

When I say it needs proofing, I'm not kidding. There are places where a man is described as wearing a black coat and then two pages latter it's blue. She describes a young boy as having polio. Now this takes place in modern times and this child is less than ten years old. To my knowledge, a case of polio hasn't been reported in Western Europe in the last 10 or 20 years, so that's just totally bogus!! And then there was my favorite proofing error, "She hid her hands behind her face." I'm not sure this is anatomically possible.

Ms. Joyce needs to get a thesaurus to try and cure her overuse of the word gaze. She loves this word, both as a noun and a verb and in one nights reading, I kept track. The longest Ms. Joyce could go without using some variation of this beloved word was two pages.

If you want a fun read, go for it. But don't be looking for literary excellence.

This does not hold up to the standards I'm used to expect from Brenda Joyce. I agree with some of the other reviews that she needed a proofreader. The parts in Spanish where atrocious. Also, the plot, oh my god, the plot. The story was convoluted in an unnecessary way. Don't get me wrong I'm a fan of gothic romances but this was too much. The characters where either oblivious or ridiculous, or both. If this is your first Brenda Joyce read, please choose another book.

I have to disagree with these reviewers that found this book "bad, and characters undeveloped". I found the characters very real in the sense that they were confused in their emotions. Cass, the lead, was one minute fiercely loyal and the next was ready to forget everyone and do exactly what she wanted to do. Don't we all feel that way sometimes? I got that she was sick of sacrificing herself for her selfish sister and finally did what she wanted with Antonio. Antonio, I admit, could have been more deeply developed. I didn't feel like I ever really got to know him at all. But I thought Joyce did a good job with the ghost aspect. I did feel sorry for Isabel - she was completely in love and loyal to that love and he was not! No wonder she was ticked off at everyone! I did find it a stretch that they stayed at the house as long as they did with all that was happening, but hey, it is a ghost story! People always stay in the haunted house when it's way past time to get out... I still have faith in Joyce. She remains one of my favs and I will continue to buy anything with her name on it.

Cassandra de Warrenne, a woman whose passion is found in the pages of history books, is about to live the nightmare of her life. When her sister, Tracey, brings home her new boyfriend, Antonio de la Barca, Cass never expected the immediate attraction she experiences. Catherine de Warrenne, aunt to Cass and Tracey, never thought she would see another de la Barca in her lifetime, but when she meets Antonio, the horror and memories flood back to her. Isabel de Warrenne, a woman who died 445 years before, is about reek havoc on these two families. But what no one knows is who she is and why she is here ***** Never in my life did I think I would read a scary book, but this one I could not put down. The characters and the story flowed together so well, I forgot I was reading a book. I kept on looking over my shoulder making sure Isabel wasnt there watching me. Look at the reviews on B&N online and you will see everyone thought this book was 4 or 5 stars! Most reviewers here have only theirselves to blame, since they did not seem to read what the book was about. They simply are used to this author writing a different TYPE of book. However, that does not make this type of book bad! It is EXCELLENT for those of us who like GOTHICS! I don't care what others think, this one sent chills down my spine! Recommended reading! *****...Blair

I have to disagree with many of the reviewers who did not find this book absolutely thrilling. The characters were wonderfully developed. I actually felt what they were feeling, especially the Isabel of the past. This was a page turner from page one. Cass and Antonio had so much in common it was only right for them to be together. Tracey was just hiding behind a mask waiting to find herself and be herself. I truly believe she loved her daughter, she just did'nt know how to show it. This was my first Brenda Joyce novel and from the effect this book had on me I'm sure I'll be reading a lot more of her work. It was so real, so vivid it felt like I was watching a movie. This is a great book buy the book, new or used if your not sure and judge for yourself.

Dear Brenda, If you wrote this book at the suggestion of an editor you must immediately get rid of him or her. If it came from your own imagination, please take some time off--you really need it. It was so pitiful to see how far off you went in this endeaver that I felt that something must be wrong. I have read all of your other books and while some have been good but not spectacular, most have been very well written and interesting. In this ghost story everything rang false; uninteresting characters, stupid plot, no real "love" just crude and nasty grappling, and I could go on. Don't be like McNaught whose "Night Whispers" was almost as bad and some of your other colleagues who re trying to "crossover". Stay true to yourself and your ability. Sincerely, MSCK

I don't know why I keep giving Ms. Joyce another chance. This one goes in the discard pile. I agree with the reviewer who described the book as "disjointed." I would describe all of her books that I have read this way. I may read any future of the "Deadly" series just to see where that story could possibly go, but I don't think I will be reading any others.

When Cass de Warenne (the historian) and her sister Trace (the jetsetter) go to Spain as the uninvted guests of the (noted historian) Antonio de le Barca, everything starts to tumble out of the closets. Trace is there for one reason: to lure Antonio back into her net; this is the man for her. There's only one rather scary problem: Isabel. There has been a long standing feud (only 445 years)between Isabel and both familes. Once Isabel made her debut I couldn't put this book down. You never knew what terrifying deed would happen next. This book is definitely worth taking the time to read.

This book was terrific. Unlike most of Brenda Joyce's novel's I have read, and I love all I have read this one was very different. I was ready for different. Cass and her sister Tracy fall for the same man. Tracy is beautiful and Cass thinks she doesn't have a chance. However Antonio is just as strongly pulled towards Cass as she is to him. Cass and Antonio are both historians and discover their family is tied to gather by their ancestors. This story is haunted and it kept me awake at night turning pages trying to find out what happens next. Brenda Joyce did a fantastic job developing these character to the point where I felt like I was watching a tv show. This is one movie you can't miss. It is a sit on the edge of your seat and never a dull moment. What I really loved about it was she brought the historical side of her writing into this as well as the modern day. TERRIFIC!