Sybil’s Review of Dreaming of You (Gamblers, Book 2) by Lisa Kleypas
Historical Romance published by HarperCollins 13 Oct 09
Dreaming of You is one of the first, if not the first, historical romance I have read where the main characters aren’t aristocratic tonish omgbutheisaduke/sheisaladyIamnogoodforhim/her people.
Of course, he still isn’t good enough for her ;).
I really enjoyed this book. The hero still has a ton of money because, really, we can’t get too normal everyday people in a historical romance. And I am ok with that, and if I want that I will go read The Crimson Petal and the White by Michel Faber and be depressed.
Sara Fielding and Derek Craven are two of my favorite characters. Even though Derek does get a touch, oh, possessive, you can understand it. He grew up with nothing and fought for every little thing he has. And there is a deep-down terror you can feel in him and his shock that he has been given a chance at happiness with Sara. You can believe he is just waiting for the other shoe to drop.
Sara is great – loving, patient and all-round perfect for Derek. I find it amusing she asks herself at one point could she live the rest of her life with constantly running into people her husband had sex with (or something like that). Because, honestly, that is something I think I couldn’t deal with every time I read the rakish, slept with half the ton, being tamed man. I mean, really, could you do it? Every ball or party you walk into, there will be at least one person that has screwed your hubby.
Cuz, really, how many people ARE there in the ton? Then again, I seem to over think on odd things. Go figure…
I must go get Then Came You because I adored Lilly. I haven’t read too many LK books, but after this one I think I am going to.
Grade: B
When shy and secluded author Sara Fielding ventures from her country cottage to research a novel, she inadvertently witnesses a crime in progress—and manages to save the life of the most dangerous man in London.
Derek Craven is a powerful and near-legendary gambling club owner who was born a bastard and raised in the streets. His reputation is unsavory, his scruples nonexistent. But Sara senses that beneath Derek’s cynical exterior, he is capable of a love more passionate than her deepest fantasies.
Aware that he is the last man that an innocent young woman should ever want, Derek is determined to protect Sara from himself, no matter what it takes. But in a world where secrets lurk behind every shadow, he is the only man who can keep her safe. And as Derek and Sara surrender to an attraction too powerful to deny, a peril surfaces from his dark past to threaten their happiness . . . and perhaps even their lives.
Together they will discover if love is enough to make dreams come true.
