Book Review – Dreaming Of You by Lisa Kleypas

Dreaming of You (Gamblers)
Ahhhhh Regency romance. I’m not that familiar with the genre yet, but so far? It sure is swoon worthy, and just like Jennifer said, there are bad boy heroes in these, too! And we had a true bad boy (Derek Craven) play out in all of his glory in this book!

“Mr. Craven doesn’t know how to love. He recognizes it only as weakness and folly. That’s part of his attraction to women, I believe. They each hope to be the one who will finally capture his heart.”

Ahhhh the appeal of the tortured bad boy. They were even irresistible back then.

This one was tried and true by SO many in our reading crew (and bev was the #1 cheerleader!!). Even though I don’t read many historical romance novels, I just had to give it a go!

bev: Your reading it! So happy. And nervous, lol. One of my all time favorite romances and hero.

Katherine: ooooh I loved him! Think its time for a reread!! 

Tanya: LOVE LOVE LOVE Derek Craven one of my all time favorite books

Rose: One of my favorite historical books! I actually read it for the first time years ago way before the “ebook” era and got it again last year on my kindle:) loved rereading it plus now it’s easy to find my favorite parts. You’re going to want more Derek after you finish this one:) And a shout out to Lisa Kleypas who’s in my group of favorite authors.

Michelle: Yey Maryse! It was my favorite historical romance this year, closely followed by Flowers from the Storm which were both recommended by Bev 

Rochelle: I LOVED this book. I have it in paperback somewhere… damn, now I think I need to order the ebook too because Derek Craven deserves another re-read soon.

MichelleS: Bev – I couldn’t resist, so I started it tonight. So excited. I’m only at 22%, but love the writing. Have missed that formal kind of haughty regency style writing, and she is very good at it.

Joanna: This is one of my all time favorites. I was sorting my books one time and realized I had FOUR copies!!!!

LOL Joanna!!! That is some serious book love. Yep. How could I resist a historical bad boy, with love like that?

He was everything we love about our bad boy alphas. Leader of the pack, dark and brooding, a man of little words (no need), no-nonsense, no frills. Intense, and commanding. Confident and privately generous. But as bad boys come… this one, too, was scarred. Terribly so.

“You have no feelings, do you? That’s why no one can hurt you – because you’re dead inside.”

“That’s right,” he said smoothly.

And the woman that was there to pick him up was not one he would have ever noticed before (innocent and inexperienced) but sometimes it takes a pure heart to get through such scars.

“It has been too long since I’ve seen such innocence in a woman’s face.”

“Innocent?” Sara shook her head and laughed. “Oh, Mr. Worthy. I know all about vice and sin – ”

“But you’ve been untouched by it.”

Sara chewed her lip pensively. “Nothing ever seems to happen in Greenwood Corners,” she admitted, “I’m always writing about the things that other people do. Sometimes I’m desperate to live, to have adventures and feel things, and -” She broke off and made a face. “I hardly know what I’m saying. What must you think of me?”

“I think,” Worthy said with a smile, “that if you long for adventure, Miss Fielding, you’ve made quite a start tonight.”

Yesssssss. Yes. She. Did.

Now… let’s talk about those scars…

One of the richest men in England, one of the most revered… feared? Such respect… and yet some private disrespect due to where he “came from”. Abandoned by his prostitute mother as a baby and raised in bordellos by those that took pity on him. Used. Abused. Poor… but eventually wealthy when his street smarts kicked in and he profited from the rich with gambling venues, and the like.

And Sara… sweet innocent Sara that writes of such scandalous subjects and has become quite famous indeed form her works. But her own world is far from what she writes about. That is, until she goes to London to “research” the seedy world of gambling and prostitutes and meets the dark Mr. Craven himself. He rebuffs her sweetness… tells her to go home for her own good.

She knows nothing about men or the city. She wanders through the worst rookeries in Londin – to her, all problems are solved with ‘please’ and ‘thank you’. Doesn’t think anyone would rob or rape her… why, it wouldn’t be polite.”

*snort*!!!!! It’s true!!!

But she sneaks into his world anyway…

“I have the rest of my life to be myself!” she said passionately. “For just one night I want to be someone else.”

and then…maybe even into his heart.

Sara had stared at the unfamiliar reflection in the mirror, her stomach jumping excitedly. The image was that of an experienced woman, well-versed in the art of seduction. “Not a mouse tonight,” she had whispered with a wondering smile. “You won’t even know me, Mr. Craven.”

Eeeep! I love it!!! It kind of had that “Sandy/Grease makeover” feel.

But that doesn’t happen without a good ol’ HUGE dose of push and pull, steamy swoon worthy romance, pining and delicious angst! Yep. They were all tragic and dramatic and angsty back then, too! I LOVE it! LOL!!!

And don’t forget those that are jealous of his wealth, stature and choose to disrespect him. Harm him… maybe even via this new… curiosity of his. Yes!!!

Great stuff! The stuff that bad boy angst and swoony moments are made of, and fantastic writing to boot! You just can’t go wrong with this author. If you love romance, READ THIS!!!! Historical or not, she’s a good girl looking to be bad, and he’s a bad boy looking for salvation (even though he doesn’t know it yet).

And so I shall give it 4 stars!

Tagged as: 4 stars, historical romance