I read Dreaming of You before reading the prequel Then Came You. Is mentioned that our hero Derek Craven is a strong supporting character in the previous book. The hero and heroine from Then Came You, Alex and Lily played a large role here and they both appear so lovey dovey. Maybe I will check out their book some day. Anyway back to Dreaming of You, I had no problem reading this as a standalone and thoroughly enjoyed Derek and Sara's story.Sara is a novelist who loves to write about society issue such as poverty, prostitution and now she wants to write about gambling club. Her previous novel titled Mathilda, a story about a prostitute brings her much fame. She met the notorious Derek Craven, the Craven's gambling club owner one night at the alley when he was being attacked by some thugs. After saving him and finding out about his identity, she tries to persuade him to allow her to do her research at his club and interview his staffs, much to Derek's annoyance.Derek Craven, our tortured hero with some self-loathing going on and kinda broody. But I find it not overdone and he did had some sense of humor and sarcasm. Although I did not read the previous book, we had enough information of his past when he tried to scare Sara away with the evil things that he had done. As if she will be easily dissuaded. Although he is now the wealthiest man in London, he is far from respected because of he doesn't possess a drop of noble blood in him. I despise the society that look highly to people who inherited the wealth, instead of making their own. My heart break for him for every time he was made to feel inferior. He had this badass facade upfront, but we know deep down he is an honorable, insecure and lonely man. Sara is a very strong and bold character. I can see that she needs to be bold here, what with Derek's reclusive personality. I love seeing Sara being so frank and voice out what she wants and Derek appeared all bewildered and unsure of himself. He keeps telling himself that he needs to protect her away from the likes of him. Keep telling yourself that, Derek. Sometimes I want to shake him so hard, so that he stop over thinking. I like the part when things got heated between Sara and Derek, they both decided to part ways with Sara heading back to her hometown and back to her fiance, Perry. Sara desperately in need to sort through her emotion and resolve the issue with Perry. Both Sara's parents are not what I expected. I expected them to be snobbish and know what's best for Sara, which is to marry to some respectable bachelor and stop writing. But they are non of that. They support Sara in her dreams and let her decides who she wants to marry herself. Sara tried to make things work with Perry, but of course she can never feels the same desire that was triggered by Derek from Perry. "Some people are separated by distances they can never cross. All they can do is dream about each other for a lifetime, never having what they want most." Before long, Sara is reunited with Derek at Lily's party. With the reappearance of Derek's crazy ex-lover, things get a little intense and suspenseful. Poor Sara for things that she had to face, just because she is in love with Derek. But I love her whenever she always tell Derek not to blame himself and reassured him of her affection. Sara is just so awesome. I never actually use the word awesome to refer to a heroine, usually the hero. As usual in historical romance, we had a prerequisite swoony epilogue. I know they are as usual cliche, but I totally soaking it up. I love cliche HEA.
What a fantastic story, I really liked it! But then again, LK can't write a bad word if she tried! Be it HR or CR, she has a way with telling a story that catches me every time.Dreaming of You was a tale that essentially argues that everyone is deserving of love and safety. Being raised in awful conditions and having no family but the will to survive on his own, Derek Craven has raised himself from a despicable pauper to an extremely wealthy man with everything at his disposal.Being the owner of a hugely successful gaming hall that caters to all sin, he has carved a niche for himself. But being at the top hasn't given him the sought out satisfaction that still evades him.Until Sara Fielding hits the scene. An accomplished writer, she sets her sights on Craven's gaming hall for 'research' for her new novel. A strange turn of events has Derek at her mercy and Sara at his. In deference to saving his life, Derek grants Sara his permission to research at his club.The premise of this book was wonderful and different having the heroine in control of her fate by supporting herself financially. Sara was very refreshing but I wanted more angst from her. She was honest and kind, taking a chance on Derek when her heart was at stake.Derek Craven was, like typical LK male fashion, incredibly masculine and sexy. She writes male characters very well and the man was impossibly alluring! Coming from the gutter, Derek never felt like he deserved all his wealth but fear of going back to a place where he had no control over his life scares him to death. His insecurities were very believable and I'm glad he abandoned them for Sara. He could be a brute yes, but he said things and acted so sweet that I ached for their happiness! Of course his wrongdoings caught up with him, but with Sara's love they turned a bad situation into a golden opportunity.Great story with a wonderful HEA!
What do You think about Dreaming Of You (2015)?
This was such a beautiful story that had me reading it in about one sitting! You met Derek Craven in The Came You as a gambling club owner with a dark past who had to claw his way up to the top and do everything in his power to stay there. When he’s suddenly attacked he’s saved by a well-known author Sara Fielding. After finding out who Derek is, Sara asks in the name of research for her next book to view his gambling club but, when sparks fly between them Derek and Sara they both face obstacles as they fall in love with each other. Derek and Sara are as different as day and night, while Derek is left jaded and cold from his past, Sara is very innocent but the sensual level between them sizzles at each meeting. Both have different strengths in each other but together they become stronger and complete. Derek is complete at times, but hides and runs away from Sara as he starts to fall in love with her, Sara shows a great strength as she opens her heart to Derek knowing he may not love her, still willing to take a risk and take a chance on love. It was great to re-visit Lily and Alex as they (mostly Lily) give a push to get Derek and Sara together. While being friends that stand besides the couple in any situation. The villain was a b**** no, really she was, but I found great enjoyment when she was finally stopped by none other the Sara herself. I didn’t care for the middle of the book over the mommy’s boy Perry and was glad when Sara finally put her foot down and went with Derek. Overall: Beautiful story of two lonely people finally find the family, friendship and love, they have always wanted , better then any dream
—Rane
I liked it, but it's not one of my favorite Kleypas books. Not sure why exactly, I know it's very beloved, but I just found it likable, but not a fav or a re-read. I definitely preferred the first novel in the series. That hero did it for me *sighs*.One big theme in DoY is the hero's feelings of inadequacy for having been raised the illegitimate and abandoned son of a prostitute and raised in London's worst neighborhoods. He had a speaking tutor to get rid of his cockney accent and worked hard to better himself. I'm all for bettering yourself through education and had to admire his determination, but I'm also more attracted to a man who embraces who he is with confidence rather than hanging his head at his roots. *shrugs* Guess it just comes down to I liked both the hero and heroine, but didn't love them. Different strokes.
—KatieV
12.15.12.just now i finished this book for like 6th time :D i dont think that i have ever re-read any other book so many times... and yet it still fascinates me every time i set my eyes on the first page..."He had always been afraid of death, for somehow he had known it would come like this, not in peace, but in pain and violence and darkness."how could these words not move me?! Derek Craven... a strange man with terrible past... he had absolutely nothing... he was born in a rookery with no name, no family, no home and of course no money... and who is he today? one of the richest man in england! this is a man who had a dream to have everything because he had nothing, but now after so many years of cheating, thieving and gambling he feels like all of this isnt enough... he has what he wanted the most: wealth, power... but he feels like something is still missing. he wants more, more, but he doesnt know what is this more! until a little country "mouse" saves his life. i adore Derek Craven for his feeling, his emotions and their deepness... he fell in love with Sarah and it was beautiful... he wasnt bossy, arrogant or a total jerk... with her he was sweet and compassionate, he respected her and cherished her. he wasnt one of those man who ran away! its more like he tried to make her run away by telling her everything about him. but it wasnt like in other books... you could see their feeling and love in every page of the book!this book is full with humor, but its strongest side are emotions. it totally ruled me... i cried like a baby in the end... i really did... when he saw Sarah i thought my heart would break for him! or when he thought she was dead... (view spoiler)["i love you", he told her, wiping impatiently at the tears that kept trickling down his face." i couldnt say it before. i couldnt..."he clenched his trembling jaw, trying to control the hot flow of tears. it only made them worse. giving up, he buried his face in her hair." Bloody hell", he muttered.Sara had never seen him so undone, had never imagined it possible. stroking his dark head, she whispered meaningless words, trying to give comfort."i love you," he repeated hoarsely, burg against her." i would have given my life to have one more day with you, and tell you that." (hide spoiler)]
—Tiko
