Dreaming of You [Mass Market Paperback]

"Dreaming of You" is one of the best historical romances I've read. The storyline is excellent and very original set in Regency London. Sara Fielding an innocent country girl arrives in London to thoroughly research her next novel. She is a succesful novelist writing about the hard life of the low classes of society, prostitutes and gamblers. One night she rescues a handsome men from the hands of two ruffians. He is bleeding but he is still able to shout orders at her in his strong Cockney accent. Sara is terrified and excited at the same time when she finds out that the victim is Derek Craven the owner of London's most exclusive gambling club.She wants to tour his club and take notes for her new novel. Derek is against it and he wants to send her packing immediately back to her little village in the country. He feels from the beginning that she is trouble and he wants to save her from everything especially from himself.He is a handsome ( even with a scar ) hard and very cynical young man who has more money than he can count and he knows everything about everybody. Women are throwing themselves at him hoping that they will be the one to make him fall in love. He's had a very hard and painful childhood, he survived in the rookeries of London and he succeeded in building a powerful empire. He thinks he has no heart and he is indifferent to every woman. His reaction to Sara terrifies him. He gets more and more attracted to her and he is scared because he can't control his desire and feelings for her. Sara feels the attraction too. She has always thought of herself as a practical country girl who will marry Perry in the village and live happily ever after.
But meeting Derek awakens her heart and her passion.They have many passionate and witty confrontations. Sara in her innocence doesn't understand Derek's behaviour. They learn a lot about each other and about their mutual needs and expectations from life.Derek fights his feelings until the end. He thinks Sara is too good for a Cockney scoundrel like him even if he is a millionaire.Their finding the way to each other is very emotional, very touching and memorable.The reader feels with them and it is hard to put the book down before the end.
The characterization of these two wonderful people is very powerful.Ms. Kleypas has a rare talent to make her characters alive and very realistic.Some characters from the author's other book "Then Came You" appear in this one too.You will find Lily and Alex Raiton as interesting as in the previous novel.
DREAMING OF YOU is a beautifully written historical romance which will touch your heart. The story is full of realism, romance and soul. The author lets us have some interesting glimpses into the world of gambling, prostitutes and the careless life of the ton in Regency London.The author's writing style is brilliant and her research of the era is satisfying.
This is a beautiful historical romance which clearly stands out of the masses of other similar books.

I liked this book because of its hero, Derek. He was abandoned as an infant and raised by prostitues. A self-made man, he was able to rise from the dregs of society to become of the richest men in London. His past explained his cynical outlook on life and his belief that he was incapable and undeserving of Sara's love. Yet, he can't help but fall for the innocent, lovable Sara, who is charming like all of Kleypas' heroines.

I highly recommend "Dreaming of You," as well as other Lisa Kleypas books. She is a terrific author. All of her books have a great story, sexy heroes, and interesting heroines. Her books are very well-written, something that I can not say for all romance writers.

Looking forward to "Someone to Watch Over Me."

I swear this is the best book by Lisa Kleypas! Although the storyline is like other romance novels, but the way that Miss Kleypas wrote this book made it different. I especially like the fact that they don't fall straight into bed moments after seeing each other! There is less lust in the beginning and more concentrated towards the two characters resolving their feelings towards each other. However, don't worry, the sexual tension is more than enough to make up for the lack of sex scenes at the beginning. And I can certainly say that Miss Kleypas make up for this lack at the end!