Search - Where Dreams Begin (Avon Historical Romance)

Absolutely fabulous!!!!!! As I write this review it is the end of the year, and I have to say that of the 80 books I read this year, THIS was my absolute favorite book. I found it utterly enchanting, highly romantic, and totally sexy. Zachary Bronson is now my most favorite Kleypas hero of all time, and I found his wickedness positively delightful. If you like your romances both hot and sweet, I highly suggest this book!!!

Grade: B

Holly Taylor was widowed at a young age when her husband died unexpectedly of a fever. Holly has grieved for three years. Even though she is still grieving, because hers was a love match, she attends a ball to reinsert herself into society. Unexpectedly while taking some air, a man mistakes her for his lover and steals a kiss. Holly is shocked, yet surprised at what this stranger awakens in her. The stranger is Zachary Bronson, a self made millionaire in search of a wife to gain him entre into London's most prestigious sitting rooms. When Zachary sets his sights on something, nothing can stop him and he sets his sights on Holly.

Where Dreams Begin is not my favorite book by Lisa Kleypas. I graded this book a B which is a favorable grade, yet there where things about this book that drove me crazy but Kleypas's writing and her ability to draw me in kept me from giving this book a lower grade.

My major problem was Holly. I liked her but sometimes her behavior was wishy-washy and inconsistent. She had already experienced love with her first husband and is hesitant to love again for fear of losing it. Could she survive the loss twice in one lifetime?

Zachary is the best part of the book for me. He is the ideal man, self sufficient, sensual, protective and willing to put his needs aside for Holly's. Wow. What a man! I enjoyed seeing him slowly fall in love with Holly over the course of the story. This is the strength of the book to me, the fact that Simon and Holly fall in love slowly and the discovery of their mutual love.

This was some nice brain candy, but it was a little slow at times. Zachary Bronsen is a super rich hunk and Holly is a widow with a cute little kid. She moves in with him because "he makes her an offer she can't refuse," *waggles eyebrows* but it's all purely based around work... rrright. Of course they love each other at first sight but it takes the whole darn book for them to really figure out the details and get things straight. But that's what makes it romantic I guess.

I have to admit that a lot of my disappointment in the book was with the ending. This was a nice read, but I was ready for it to be done at the second to last chapter and was peeved when there was this whole story line to finish still. I wont go into detail, cause that might ruin it for some, but it did nothing for me. I liked it enough that I would recommend it if you have nothing to read and want something that's quick and eventually quite steamy. But if your looking for something stellar, I would look somewhere else.

Lady Holland Taylor is a widow who has grieved for her young husband for three years. Now that it is time to join society, she attends a ball. Looking for a quiet room to get away from the crowd, she is suddenly grabbed by a man who believing she is his lover, steals a kiss.

Zachary Bronson started out dirt poor, but has built and empire. He is untitled and needs a wife to help him gain the respect of the ton. After meeting Holly, he invites her to his home where he offers her the job of teaching his sister and himself what they need to know to be accepted in society. Of course, he also wants get to know Holly better and make her his wife.

This story kept me glued to the pages. Holly is very much afraid to try love again after the devastating loss of her first husband. Zach is the kind of hero I love...tough, smart and sexy. He is willing to put his needs aside for Holly and her young daughter, Rose. My rating: 5 Stars.

I just finished reading "When Strangers Marry" and I can't help but feel the two main characters are very similar here. It seems like there Kleypas uses illness as a way of bonding or as a tragic past a lot. So if you are okay with that reoccuring theme, then you would probably like this. For me, it took away some of the enjoyment.

The book was good though. I enjoyed Zach and Holly. They more a little more serious than I expected and less bantering. I didn't think I would like ruthless Zach but Kleypas did a good job of showing another side to him. I loved the scenes between Zach and Rose (Holly's daughter). Zach's family was great although his mother kind of got on my nerves with the way she felt like Zach was shooting for the impossible by wanting Holly.

The end seemed to drag a little. Kind of like there was nowhere else to go with the story but Kleyplas felt like she needed to fulfill the page obligation to her publisher.

I liked the class commentary in the story as though, especially when Zach tries to help people that are not the upper class by not giving a handout but by providing means to help themselves.

Interesting read. Decent.

One of the best books I've read this year.