He pushes her away, despite his desperate attraction to her. Sara is involved with a simpering nabob, so it’s no shock she’s intrigued by the “bad-boy” Derek Craven.ĭerek does not like Sara, or at least he wants her to know he feels that way. She asks questions about everything, from gambling to the lives of the women who work there to more personal questions about Derek.

Sara walks around Craven’s with her pencil and notepad in hand, a naive, inquisitive creature. And Derek can’t help but fight his growing tenderness for the innocent miss. However, it’s the owner of the establishment she’s most keen about.

Sara will meet Derek’s factotum, Worthy, numerous ladies-of-the-evening, and other interesting people at Craven’s. Derek allows Sara into his dark underworld for her research. Nevertheless, she did save his life, so he owes her a favor. I picture him as Christian Bale’s character from the film “ The Prestige.”ĭerek wants nothing to do with the over-inquisitive Sara. Craven is snaggletoothed, handsome in an off-beat, rugged type of way, and speaks with a Cockney accent. He’s wealthy but certainly not part of polite society, even if some of his past mistresses are. Derek was born illegitimate and grew up on the streets, having to build himself up alone. Far from being a traditional English lord, he’s as rough as a hero can get. The man she saves is the aforementioned hero, Derek Craven.Ĭraven is the owner of London’s most successful gambling house, which doubles as a house of pleasure. She’s able to prevent the man from being killed, although not before his attackers cut him. Sara’s out at night in a rough London neighborhood to investigate material for her next book when she comes upon an altercation.

Her novels address the fallen people in society. She’s not ravishingly beautiful, wears spectacles, and is a rather curious woman. Sara Fielding is a novelist in Regency-era England. This is a beautiful romance by the talented Kleypas where two people from contrasting social classes come together in love. Derek was previously seen in Then Came You, whose reserved hero, Alex Raiford, was more to my liking. Dreaming of You by Lisa Kleypas features one of her most beloved characters, Derek Craven.

Read dreaming of you by lisa kleypas