IN MY WILDEST FANTASIES

Author: Julianne MacLean ISBN: 0060819499 11/2007 HISTORICAL Publisher: AVON
Time Period: Victorian, 1874 England

A Simple Twist of Fate... Four years ago, a mesmerizing stranger pulled Lady Rebecca Newland from her runaway coach, galloping to her rescue in a fog-shrouded forest. Though she was just seventeen, Rebecca felt an irresistible desire for the mysterious man, and swore that she would someday be his bride. But now she is betrothed to another man whom she detests—and Devon Sinclair, the future Duke of Pembroke and her hero, lies tantalizingly beyond her reach. Haunted by an unspeakable past, Devon has no intention of taking a wife, not even the enticing Rebecca. But then his father rules that Devon must wed by Christmas or forfeit his rightful inheritance. Now, with his fortune at stake, Devon sets out to lure Rebecca to his bed... where their scandalous passion could prove they are destined for true love.

RRAH's THOUGHTS AND PONDERINGS:

While I desperately wanted to love this latest offering by Julianne MacLean, I truly was not blown away at all. Don't get me wrong—I love Ms. MacLean's writing and have many of her books on my keeper shelves. Unfortunately, this book may not be one that adds to that pile.

While I loved the entire premise of the book—a knight in shining armor swoops down and saves a young damsel in distress, and now, years later, after many dreams of this knight, our damsel is reunited with him and they wed—the entire book just seemed a little forced.

Part of my problem with the book is that it just didn't mesh well. There were a lot of awkward moments where I found myself cringing and at times, the heroine, Rebecca, acts a bit on the desperate side and says absolutely ridiculous, embarrassing things, which I don't like at all. There is also the issue of the big "secret" (that of the h/h subsequently keeping the true reason for their needs to be married from one another) that really didn't turn out to be any sort of satisfying, passionate discovery, but rather blasé—almost as if the author didn't really have anywhere to go with the entire "secret" issue.

I feel horrible for not really liking this book. I love Julianne MacLean's work and I know how long it takes to write a book. Of course I will buy just about anything that Ms. MacLean writes, but I have to be completely honest and say that IN MY WILDEST FANTASIES just did not live up to its title.

Kristal Gorman