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Only in My Dreams
AN UNLIKELY MATCH...
Driven into an arranged marriage, Baroness Lorelei Winters is once again the talk of the ton. A wealthy orphan raised by governesses, Lorelei's fierce independence and sullied reputation kept her apart from proper British society... particularly the gentlemen. But she needs a husband, even one in name only, to give her respectability and the family she always longed for. And the brash, strikingly handsome aristocrat she has wed seems to need her as much as she needs him.
...MADE IN HEAVEN
Raised in America but returned to England to assume his birthright, Adrian Rutland, Viscount Dane needs an English bride to enter society, a woman of manners and grace. But Adrian finds himself captivated by the ferocious chestnut-haired beauty and snatches her from a dreadful match by wedding her himself. Lorelei's sparkle and spirit match his own. Could what began as a marriage of convenience spark something deeper?
Driven into an arranged marriage, Baroness Lorelei Winters is once again the talk of the ton. A wealthy orphan raised by governesses, Lorelei's fierce independence and sullied reputation kept her apart from proper British society... particularly the gentlemen. But she needs a husband, even one in name only, to give her respectability and the family she always longed for. And the brash, strikingly handsome aristocrat she has wed seems to need her as much as she needs him.
...MADE IN HEAVEN
Raised in America but returned to England to assume his birthright, Adrian Rutland, Viscount Dane needs an English bride to enter society, a woman of manners and grace. But Adrian finds himself captivated by the ferocious chestnut-haired beauty and snatches her from a dreadful match by wedding her himself. Lorelei's sparkle and spirit match his own. Could what began as a marriage of convenience spark something deeper?
384 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1998
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Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews
June 16, 2009
There is so much to love about this story. Baroness Lorelei Winters is used to being made fun of and ridiculed by the Ton for her red hair, her tall, abundant body (certainly not fashionably thin), and her outspokenness. Enter Adrian, Viscount Dane, mild-mannered, but upstart American who has just inherited a title. Their eyes meet across the room, and Adrian knows that he's found the woman of his dreams. I loved it. He declares his affections for her in front of all the people who had made fun of her, and proceeds to pursue her until she agrees to marry him. Although Adrian needs to marry, he is 100% sincere in his admiration and attraction to Lorelei. If he's going to marry, it will be this marveous Goddess in his eyes.
This book doesn't have the misunderstandings and the breakups that never fail to frustrate me in otherwise good romance novels. It's about the development of a marriage of two people who are deeply drawn to each other but have lessons to learn. I loved the wedding night scene and all the other love scenes. They aren't explicit at all, but the passion is there in spades, giving them a sensual, and meaningful feel. Just perfect for this story. You see that both Lorelei and Adrian have some adjustments to make in being married. Lorelei is used to being independent and has to learn to integrate a husband into her life. Adrian has to learn how to have a wife who will always be independent and outspoken. And then there's the fact that technically Adrian is on the enemy side of the brewing war between England and America (The War of 1812).
I liked that Adrian's gentle support and adoration of Lorelei allowed her to open up and become more vulnerable in a good way. I liked that Lorelei reciprocates Adrian's feelings, although she doesn't quite understand what he thinks is so wonderful about her. I admired Lorelei's strength and intelligence, and her warm nature that she had despite being treated so badly. I liked that she wasn't ugly in her behavior or prickly towards Adrian because of fears and her feelings of being unwanted and rejected.
Ms. Byron did a great job of not allowing Lorelei's size to be the elephant in the room. It was a part of her that Adrian accepted and appreciated about Lorelei just like everything else. There is one scene where he tries to pick her up and carry her and he throws his back out. It was a great scene because it showed that just because a hero can't pick you up and carry you because you aren't dainty doesn't mean that he can't find you desirable and adore you just as much. I know I've read enough romances to wonder about whether there are cases where a man can't carry the woman because of her weight.
It was a lovely book to read. I loved it so much, I 'pimped' it out three of my online bookfriends who lived overseas. I found copies at the used bookstore and mailed them out to my friends.
I had never heard of Eve Byron before I read this book. After reading it, I bought every book she wrote that I could find. She is a solid author, but this book is definitely my favorite by her. She definitely made a fan of me with this wonderful book.
This book doesn't have the misunderstandings and the breakups that never fail to frustrate me in otherwise good romance novels. It's about the development of a marriage of two people who are deeply drawn to each other but have lessons to learn. I loved the wedding night scene and all the other love scenes. They aren't explicit at all, but the passion is there in spades, giving them a sensual, and meaningful feel. Just perfect for this story. You see that both Lorelei and Adrian have some adjustments to make in being married. Lorelei is used to being independent and has to learn to integrate a husband into her life. Adrian has to learn how to have a wife who will always be independent and outspoken. And then there's the fact that technically Adrian is on the enemy side of the brewing war between England and America (The War of 1812).
I liked that Adrian's gentle support and adoration of Lorelei allowed her to open up and become more vulnerable in a good way. I liked that Lorelei reciprocates Adrian's feelings, although she doesn't quite understand what he thinks is so wonderful about her. I admired Lorelei's strength and intelligence, and her warm nature that she had despite being treated so badly. I liked that she wasn't ugly in her behavior or prickly towards Adrian because of fears and her feelings of being unwanted and rejected.
Ms. Byron did a great job of not allowing Lorelei's size to be the elephant in the room. It was a part of her that Adrian accepted and appreciated about Lorelei just like everything else. There is one scene where he tries to pick her up and carry her and he throws his back out. It was a great scene because it showed that just because a hero can't pick you up and carry you because you aren't dainty doesn't mean that he can't find you desirable and adore you just as much. I know I've read enough romances to wonder about whether there are cases where a man can't carry the woman because of her weight.
It was a lovely book to read. I loved it so much, I 'pimped' it out three of my online bookfriends who lived overseas. I found copies at the used bookstore and mailed them out to my friends.
I had never heard of Eve Byron before I read this book. After reading it, I bought every book she wrote that I could find. She is a solid author, but this book is definitely my favorite by her. She definitely made a fan of me with this wonderful book.
November 11, 2009
This book made me laugh so it get's a good score. I enjoyed Byron's writing style too, asside from actually making some funny jokes, I loved a lot of her scene transitions. It would sometimes go from flowery and cliched to abrupt and passive aggressive just for the sake make a humorous point about a characters uncertainly.
The heroine's low self-esteem bordered on tedious but I didn't get annoyed because I like self-deprecating characters.
The heroine's low self-esteem bordered on tedious but I didn't get annoyed because I like self-deprecating characters.
June 28, 2012
Your stereotypical romance novel with a fuller-figured wallflower girl who is hard on the outside but mush in the middle. Throw in a bit of humor and you've got a book worth reading at least once.
February 23, 2021
Adrian Rutland, Viscount Dane knows it is time for him to look for a bride. But he also must rescue his American cousin who has been captured by the British navy. When he meets Merry, Baroness Winters at a party he realizes he has met a woman who is more then any other. In size that is, she is nearly as tall as him and in her opinion has way to many curves. As she tries to convince him that there is no way he can be interested in a woman her size, he can think of nothing but her. After she makes a mistake at a ball, he announces in front of 100 people that he has asked her to marry him. But, he hasn't he is trying to protect her from the ton. She still cannot believe anyone wants to be with her and he goes out of his way to prove he does.
January 6, 2018
Both Lorelei and Adrian were good characters. Though there was a lot of agnst on both sides. it added drama that it did not really need. Though it was interesting to see how the characters reacted I think it would have been better with less going on.
It is an entertaining read with likeable characters .I give it a three.
It is an entertaining read with likeable characters .I give it a three.
September 19, 2010
This was a very sweet romance, about learning to open yourself up to love and trust. I could identify with the heroine and thought the hero was adorable. However sometimes I had trouble deciphering what exactly they were arguing about!
June 23, 2015
I bought this one in print, y'all! It had a lot of promise, but I felt like there were 2 conflicting stories here, and they didn't quite meet in the middle. I found Lorelei's story re: body issues and acceptance more compelling than the Dane/ship subplot.
December 8, 2011
I enjoyed this book immensely. It was easy to identify with Lorelei and what woman, no matter her size, does not want to be adored. The book was well crafted and an easy read.
January 15, 2012
rated 3.5
Displaying 1 - 9 of 9 reviews