Lady Holly Taylor and Zachary Bronson
Where Dreams Begin
By Lisa Kleypas
Book Blurb:
"We're strangers in the darkness," he whispered. "We'll never be together like this again."
Zachary Bronson has built an empire of wealth and power, but all London knows is not a gentleman. He needs a wife to secure his position in society—and warm his bed in private. But one alluring, unexpected kiss from Lady Holly Taylor awakens a powerful need within him beyond respectability.
An exceptional beauty whose fierce passions match Zachary's own, Holly always intended to play by society's rules, even when they clashed with her bolder instincts. But now a dashing stranger has made her a scandalous offer that does not include matrimony. Should she ignore the sensuous promise of a forbidden kiss...or risk everything to follow her heart to a place where dreams begin?
I am really loving reading this post regency era. One thing that I particularly love about Lisa Kleypas' historical books are that the men are not all Dukes, Earls etc. I really enjoy the different historical scenarios that she reaches for. Whether it be the locomotive industry, publishing or bow street runners she delivers fresh new situations that leaves me checking out Goodreads looking for more books she wrote.
The story focuses on a lonely young widow, Lady Holly. She has spent three years in practical seclusion mourning her beloved husband who passed away after a relatively short marriage. I really appreciated that she had a true love match with her husband. There was no unnecessary villain here. Even Holly's in-laws were stellar people. Holly's conflict was her need to find a way to make a life after her husband's death.
Enter into her life Zachary Bronson. Even his name gives off an air of a strong determined male. He was born dirt poor and has worked his way up in the world to be so rich, that he surpasses even the richest of the aristocracy. His biggest problem is that he cannot be accepted among the ton as he is so far from gently bred that he could easily have ended up being one of their servants. He used to be a boxer to earn money in his younger years which only added to his already large size. So not only does his station in life set him apart but just the sheer size of his shoulders and arms makes him stick out. Zachary is a thinker and after a brief but highly memorable encounter with Lady Holly, he devises a plan to become more acquainted with her. His plan is so genius he actually ends up having Holly move in with him and his family.
Zachary is crass with his mannerisms and is far to blunt with his words. He can even be a whole lot on the ridiculous side as he ponders whether or not to buy Lady Holly's precious four year old daughter a crown when she mentions she wants to be a princess. But this right here is a defining moment for Zachary and probably where I fell for him:
"For the first time in his life, he was beginning to recognize that true passion was not easily satisfied, that there was a difference between the needs of his cock and the organ that resided two feet above."
Zachary wants Lady Holly so badly and not just to bed her. He falls completely in love with her and all her proper ways. He wants to better himself and protect her. It warmed me right down to my toes. Lady Holly wants to move on but the memory of her husband holds her back from dreaming. She knows she will be shunned out of polite society if she get involves with Zachary. I loved the pull this story had on me. Where Dreams Begin is a keeper shelf to be read again and again and again.
Teasers: button string, gaudy mansion, death bed promise, sickness returns
