Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Where Dreams Begin

by Lisa Kleypas (Goodreads Author)

3.97 of 5 stars 3.97 · rating details · 4,934 ratings · 230 reviews

"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 respecta...more

Paperback, 373 pages

Published August 1st 2000 by Avon (first published 2000)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

Favorite Historical Romance Novels

69th out of 1,610 books — 2,764 voters

Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean

The Viscount Who Loved Me by Julia Quinn

Best Rogue/Rake Romance Books

14th out of 352 books — 646 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 3,000)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Oct 05, 2012 Stacia ~ Mistress of Mediocrity rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: adult

Book gods : "Stacia, you've had a rough reading week. It's time that we allow you a moment of rest. Go forth and enjoy this familiar author as you relax in our favor for this brief moment."

Me : "Thank you, sirs and madams. I will try not to squander your gift."

3.5 stars. I had to deduct half a point for an ending that should have been cut off about 30 pages sooner.

I'm officially refreshed now. Kleypas never fails to entertain me. The formula still stands as successful as ever. There are no witty quips to share this time but I'm okay with that. Zachary was my kind of hero (...except for that ever-persistent chest hair that Kleypas seems to favor on her male leads. Springy chest hair has never sounded attractive to me.). He fights (as in bare-knuckle boxing), he swears, and he knows how to please a woman. Society be damned, he's going to fit in without the help of noble gentlemen. If he can't buy respect, he'll win it. And this time he's out to win the heart of Lady Holland.

The sound of his voice stunned her...a deep purring rumble, like the voice of Hades as he dragged an unwilling Persephone down to his underworld kingdom.

I loved that the book opener was about two strangers meeting during a chance encounter in the dark - our hero mistaking Holly's identity for another :

"We're strangers in the darkness," he whispered back. "We'll never be together like this again. No, don't pull away. Show me how an evening can be magical."

There's no real point in me going through my likes and dislikes as I would with another book or author. Kleypas doesn't change much in style from book to book, even though there are some stories which are better than others. This one falls somewhere in the middle for me - not the best, not the worst. I go with this author mainly when I want the familiar comfort of not having to work too hard in order to find myself lost in a story. If you like her historical romances, then you'll want to check this one out.

It's always worth it just to see a large, alpha-male type brought to his knees :

"What we just shared, Holly...I don't know if it was a communion of souls, but it was the damn closest I'm ever going to get."

(less)

26 likes · like · see review

Feb 11, 2009 Beth F. rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance, 2009, beths-and-elizabeths, tnbbc-winter-2008

You’d be hard pressed to find any romance with a fresh/new storyline, and yet Kleypas has had a much higher success rate than many of her contemporaries at breathing new life into otherwise worn out plots. This was another success. And despite the fact that the last 40 or 50 pages of this book were entirely unnecessary (and a bit of a buzz kill from an otherwise fantastic story) I’m still giving this four stars because the first 90% of the book was a joy to read.

Romance clichés skillfully broug...more

12 likes · like · see review

Feb 04, 2012 Zumbagirl rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012, adorable-child, death-of-a-spouse, favorite-author, love-or-lust-at-first-sight, regency-romance, widow, self-made-man

Another winner from Lisa Kleypas!! Holly is a widow with a young child, Rose. Her husband died three years previous to her encounter with Zachary - a self-made man, fabulously wealthy and handsome. It was a chance meeting, in the dark, he mistook her for another woman he arranged to secretly meet. What a beginning!

Well, this book was sad in some ways because Holly is still mourning the death of her husband, George. She's desolate without him. The only thing that keeps her going is her daughter...more

6 likes · like · see review

Jan 08, 2012 Nikki rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: own-ebook, holiday-reads, best-h-h-ever, delicious-hero, everyone-read-this-right-now, favourites, historical, gorgeous, perfect-heroine, 5-stars

5 stars.

I created a new shelf for this called "gorgeous" because it quite simply was from start to finish.

Lisa Kleypas is extremely dominant on my favourites shelf because she is obviously one of the most magical romance authors of all time. I can't tell you how much the opening chapter of this book captured my attention but my heart was with both Lady Holly and Zachary from that point forward.

Can I just say how refreshing it was to not have any crazy drama or suspense plot in Where Dreams Begi...more

10 likes · like · see review

Nov 28, 2011 Lisa Kay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: all-time-favorites, genre-romance-historical, married-couple-all-or-most-of-book, auto-buy-author, re-read-for-comfort, character-child-children-featured, theme-hero-heals-heroine, character-dukeless, m-pb-paperback, character-widow, zz-fall-colors, tons-of-tears-b4-hea, theme-bad-boy-reputation, reviewed-by-me, authors-k, authors-l, zzcover-gold, character-male-z

★★★★★ This is a review of the audiobook.

The 2000 paperback publication has long been one of my favorite Lisa Kleypas books and I can see the hero, Zachary Bronson, as the archetype for so many other Kleypas heroes to come: a rough, self-made man with endless determination to get what he wants, and he wants Lady Holland Taylor. (Talk about a man in pursuit!) Only here he is set in an era where dukes ruled the day and he is, alas, without anything approaching a title. But that is not deterring hi...more

12 likes · like · see review

Dec 24, 2010 Fani rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance-historical, 2009-purchase, best-of-2010, favorite-hero, hero-is-besotted, holes-in-plot, emotional, keepers-romance, from-opposite-tracks, kids-in-plot, heroine-is-prim-and-proper, paperbacks-read

One of my favorite books for 2010 and straight into my keepers shelf. Review to come after Christmas!

Well, it's after Christmas now but I guess I'm too tired from the festivities to write a complete review so I'll keep it short:

Zachary Bronson has become a rich man and has gained all his heart's desires except one thing: admittance in the ton because of his lowly origins. In a ball he meets the beautiful widow Lady Holland and decides he wants her as his tutor in order to polish his manners, and...more

11 likes · like · see review

Feb 04, 2012 ❀ Mary ❀ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: lisa-kleypas

This is the spanish version of "Where Dreams Begin."

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 in...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 13, 2011 Nisha rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historicalromance, opposites-attract, alpha-heros, dangerous-or-bad-boys, friends-to-lovers, pregnant-or-mothers, hot-hero-award

Beautiful story! I had my doubts and the very end was a little draggy, but this is one of the best love stories written by Lisa Kleypas or ever written, actually. I absolutely adored it.

After 3 years of mourning, Lady Holland has finally returned to society. Her marriage had been perfect and her in-laws are willing to support her and her daughter, but she still can't seem move on after her husband's death. Shockingly, when she meets Zachary Bronson, an arriviste and a commoner climbing the socia...more Beautiful story! I had my doubts and the very end was a little draggy, but this is one of the best love stories written by Lisa Kleypas or ever written, actually. I absolutely adored it.

After 3 years of mourning, Lady Holland has finally returned to society. Her marriage had been perfect and her in-laws are willing to support her and her daughter, but she still can't seem move on after her husband's death. Shockingly, when she meets Zachary Bronson, an arriviste and a commoner climbing the social ladder through money and influence, who offers a job to teach manners and etiquette, she takes the opportunity. Rough-mannered Bronson and the perfect lady begin their friendship, with a steady undercurrent of attraction, and soon they unknowingly fall in love. But will their class difference and Holly's memory of her late husband keep them apart, or will they find the courage to take a chance?

I loved the Bronson family. I know I usually start talking about the heroine about now, but I just loved how the family interacted with Holly and how real the relationships sounded. Lizzie was my favorite, as well as her affair with Holly's cousin. Very cute. Rose, Holly's daughter, was nicely done. Instead of making the child the forefront of the relationship growth, LK uses a different tactic, which I found more realistic to the type of people she created.

Holly is a beautiful character. She is flawed but truly very easy to relate to. I liked her, except when she got very guilty about her relationship with Bronson. Bronson was even better. He respected and loved Holly, and yet remained who he was. He was vulnerable and yearned to be accepted, at the same time he was ambitious and aimed for a destiny he may never reach. I was annoyed that he had slept with other women while Holly was under his employment, but somehow, I could forgive him. Again, I loved the way LK chose to depict him, not opting for the easy way out, instilling him with a few flaws that seem unforgivable.

I didn't like the last 2 chapters. They were...too sappy and I was already satisfied with their ending earlier in the book, so I was bored.

But, overall, this was a wonderful book and I recommend this to anyone who enjoys HR. The best part is that Bronson is a self-made man, an anomaly in HR. If anyone has read Susan Elizabeth Phillips's Match Me If You Can, he reminds me of a more child-friendly version of Heath.(less)

8 likes · like · see review

Jul 26, 2011 Bekah rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads

Zachary Bronson and Lady Holland Taylor inadvertently share a stolen kiss as strangers in the dark at a ball that changes the course of their lives. After Holly completely rocks Zachary’s life off its axis, he goes searching for her and makes her an offer she cannot refuse.

My first read of this book led me to give it 3 stars as I thought it really just sort of average and not as romantic and touching as other Kleypas books. But I have come to the realization that I underestimated Zachary Bronso...more Zachary Bronson and Lady Holland Taylor inadvertently share a stolen kiss as strangers in the dark at a ball that changes the course of their lives. After Holly completely rocks Zachary’s life off its axis, he goes searching for her and makes her an offer she cannot refuse.

My first read of this book led me to give it 3 stars as I thought it really just sort of average and not as romantic and touching as other Kleypas books. But I have come to the realization that I underestimated Zachary Bronson as I was temporarily blinded by my awe of other Kleypas heroes who were taking up much of my attention (i.e. Gage Travis from Sugar Daddy) Zachary Bronson is a self made man who is worth a lot, and I do mean a lot of money. But no amount of money will make him or his family acceptable in the eyes of the ton. So to solve his need for the company of Lady Holly, he proposes she move into his home and teach him, his sister, and his mother in the way of social manners and graces that will help in paving their way into society. Zachary desperately needed to learn how to be a gentleman. He was rough around the edges, once a pugilist, and used to using any means necessary to get what he wanted. Lady Holly described a gentleman as:

“Being a gentleman is quite a bit more than a few lessons on manners,” Holly replied, “It is a condition of character…it means being noble, kind, modest, courageous, self-sacrificing and honest. Every minute of the day. Whether one is in the company of others or completely alone.”

What we come to find out in as we learn more about Zachary is that he is a true gentleman and he didn’t need any lessons in being a gentleman. Zachary has a sense of honor, a core of steel, and he always treated Holly with respect and deference. The way in which he was so inescapably drawn to her was so intense and exciting to read. The way in which he would stare intently at her as if he couldn’t even control his own eyes when she was in his vicinity was alluring.

When at last the preparations were made and the maids had left, Holly began to unbutton the wrists of her little gray gloves and tug them neatly from her fingertips. She paused as she felt Mr. Bronson’s intent gaze on her, and looked up with an inquiring smile, “Shall I?” she asked, gesturing toward the tea service, and he nodded, his attention immediately returning to her hands.

There was something in Bronson’s eyes, some disquieting glow that made Holly feel as if she were unbuttoning her blouse instead of simply removing her gloves. It was an ordinary thing to bare one’s hands before a gentleman, and yet the way he stared at her made the task seem strangely intimate.

I sympathized with Zach’s feelings of inadequacy where Holly was concerned. The status barrier was so ever present in this novel that it was a huge personal hurdle for Zachary. His mother didn’t help with his feelings, only confirming that he and Holly would be like pairing a ‘donkey with a thoroughbred.’ I found that comparison harsh, yet I understood the need to in some way save her son from pursuing something that might just lead him into utter anguish. But the attraction and pull between the two was just too intense and inevitable to resist. Zachary was a wonderful hero. He was intense, intent on Holly only and his need for her was fierce, yet he did not push or force or demean her or himself, and in the end I loved the way he stood up for himself and made her come to him and prove and admit to herself how much she wanted and needed him as well. I give Zachary Bronson a 7/10 on the Kleypas scale

The steam in this book was quite late in coming in the book, although all the tension in the beginning was tantalizing enough. When Zachary and Holly finally gave in to one another it was yummy indeed. There wasn’t an abundance of steamy scenes as there are in some of Kleypas’ books, but there was a sufficient amount and a more than adequate description of their continued need and enjoyment of each other. It was definitely above average that what I would normally find in similar books and so I would give it a 6.5/10 in terms of steam. For a Lisa Kleypas book that is a little low, but you won’t be disappointed by any means. This is also one of those books where the story and the progression of the story are as important if not more important than the steamy scenes. They were definitely a tasteful accompaniment to the wonderful love story.

The romance in this book too was a little late in coming, but when it came it was so touching. It took quite some time for Lady Holly to come to terms with her feelings for Zachary and it is quite understandable when you realize how much of a presence her deceased husband George had in the book. It was as if he was an actual living breathing character in the story right alongside Zachary and Holly. It is a interesting and difficult dynamic to manage and I thought that it was handled in a real and raw, gritty way. Ms. Kleypas didn’t shy away from the more unpleasant aspects of loving someone who has lost a spouse and is still in the throes of mourning. With that said, Holly really was hiding behind her mourning and Zachary was just the man to rip her right out of it. His love of her, his devotion and his obsession with her was more apparent right off in the beginning, while Holly’s was much slower in coming. I sort of felt that she was unfairly torturing him, letting him in so far, and then constantly retreating begging him to “forget this night happened” I felt that she needed to own up to her feelings and stop leading him on. I failed to realize how trapped she still was by her late husband. What was romantic and nice to see was the transformation she made to accepting her love and need of Zachary. She realized in a huge way how much of a difference there was between the two, that George was really quite young and had much growth to accomplish and Zachary was the man for her, her soul mate. The ending was quite a different take than Kleypas usually takes, but it was sweet and romantic to see things from everyone’s perspective. I also loved the growth Zachary had to go through when all control was taken completely out of his hands and he couldn’t put money down on the table to obtain what he wanted. He became an even more humble man and came to fully understand the meaning of love. When speaking with Holly about how her husband gave up too soon, Zachary promised himself:

I would have fought, Zachary though, sternly locking the words inside himself. I would have gone toe to toe with the devil himself to stay with you and Rose. I would go down howling and kicking before I let go of what I had.

And he did. :-) (less)

1 like · like · see review

Jan 14, 2013 Yodamom rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: audio, crack-a-smile, drama-rama, favorite-author, historical-fiction, my-addiction, romance, tissue-box-special, yummy-men

Audiobook- 5 star narration
A young widow broken and still deeply in live with her husband must learn to live again after three years of mourning. She braves society's judgment to take a chance that will give her daughter a better future in life and may give her one as well.
A beautiful story of looking beyond what others expect of you-Taking a chance even if the outcome looks grim. What a roller-coaster ride.

1 like · like · see review

Nov 14, 2011 Alicia rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: author-lisa-kleypas, historical-romance, 5-stars

I can't believe there was a historical romance by Lisa Kleypas that I hadn't read yet, but there it is. I LOVED this story. Zach was the perfect hero. And I adored the way they met, soooo romantic. Lovely story. This one went on my keeper shelf, right next to Dreaming of You, my all-time favorite Lisa Kleypas book.

1 like · like · see review

Jan 21, 2013 Kris rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

4.5 STARS Lady Holly Taylor is beautiful, refined and a widow. She has willingly stayed in mourning in the honour of the man she loved and respected. She does not think she will ever marry again and is okay with this as she has a young daughter to raise. Holly lives among her in-laws as she does not want to her burden her parents who still have unmarried daughters. She is content until she meets Zachary Bronson who ignites a passion within her and lures her into a business deal. Zachary's mother...more

like · see review

Dec 18, 2012 Hobby rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, pinjam

Books ”AWAL MULA MIMPI”
Judul Asli : WHERE DREAMS BEGIN”
Copyright © 2000 by Lisa Kleypas
Penerbit Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Alih Bahasa : Anggraini Novitasari
Cover by Marcel A.W.
Cetakan I : Oktober 2012 ; 472 hlm
Rate : 4 of 5

London, 1830 – pada pesta di mansion Lord Bellemont, Earl of Warwick
Lady Holly Taylor, janda George Taylor yang telah menggenapi masa berkabung selama 3 tahun, sedang berusaha menikmati kebebasan di malam pertama ia memulai aktifitas di pergaulan sosial, setelah menutup diri selam...more
Books ”AWAL MULA MIMPI”
Judul Asli : WHERE DREAMS BEGIN”
Copyright © 2000 by Lisa Kleypas
Penerbit Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Alih Bahasa : Anggraini Novitasari
Cover by Marcel A.W.
Cetakan I : Oktober 2012 ; 472 hlm
Rate : 4 of 5

London, 1830 – pada pesta di mansion Lord Bellemont, Earl of Warwick
Lady Holly Taylor, janda George Taylor yang telah menggenapi masa berkabung selama 3 tahun, sedang berusaha menikmati kebebasan di malam pertama ia memulai aktifitas di pergaulan sosial, setelah menutup diri selama berkabung. Harapan untuk memulai kehidupan baru ternyata berat, karena perlakuan teman-teman lamanya, justru membuatnya merasa terkucil dan dikasihani. Tak tahan dalam suasana iba dan menjaga jarak yang ia alami, Holly merencanakan bergegas pulang. Sembari menunggu kereta penjemputnya siap, ia memasuki ruangan tersendiri, tempat di mana ia tak perlu berpura-pura di hadapan para tamu yang memandangi dirinya. Di luar dugaan, di ruangan itu ia berjumpa dengan pria misterius yang mengajaknya ‘bercumbu’ – suatu kesalahan fatal karena salah sangka, diduga wanita lain, kejadian yang memabukan itu terhenti dengan segera. Namun kenangan kejadian yang memalukan sekaligus membuat Holly merasa hidup kembali itu, berusaha ia lupakan dalam perjalanan pulang.

Di sisi lain, pria misterius yang salah duga itu adalah Zachary Bronson – pria kaya raya berkat berbagai usaha yang ia lakukan sepanjang hidupnya. Meski kekayaannya tiada yang sanggup menandingi di kalangan sekitarnya, ia memiliki Impian yang sulit diwujudkan, diterima di kalangan terhormat. Karena dirinya bukanlah keturunan bangsawan, melainkan pemuda dari keluarga miskin yang berhasil mengangkat harkat keluarganya melalui perjuangan berat serta kerja keras tiada henti. Satu-satunya cara yang bisa ia pikirkan guna melaksanakan Impian itu, adalah menikah dengan wanita dari golongan bangsawan. Permasalahannya, tiada satu pun wanita apalagi seorang gadis yang bersedia menurunkan derajat menikahi pria dari kalangan bawah, meski ia memiliki kekayaan bak seorang sultan. Dan kini, setelah melalui ‘pertemuan’ tak terduga dengan Lady Holly Taylor, ia sangat terkesan dan memiliki sebuah rencana khusus : bagaimana ia bisa memanfaatkan Lady Holly Taylor demi kepentingannya.

more about this bok, check on my review at here :
http://lemarihobbybuku.blogspot.com/2...

(less)

like · see review

Dec 05, 2012 Dina Oktariani rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Hero di buku ini Zachary Bronson, berasal dari kalangan biasa, bukan bangsawan, pokoknya masa kecilnya menderita banget deh. Tapi karena Zach pandai berinvestasi dan segala macemnya, dia berhasil menghasilkan uang yang sangat banyak, tapi ada satu yang belum tercapai, Zach belum diterima sepenuhnya di kalangan bangsawan.

Heroinenya, Hollanda Taylor, seorang janda, suaminya meninggal karena sakit, dan Holly ini sudah melewati masa berkabung 3 tahun lamanya. Holly dan putrinya Rose tinggal di kedia...more

like · see review

Dec 03, 2012 Roghaya rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance

Konsep ceritanya sebenarnya menarik. Bagaimana mempertemukan dua orang yang benar2 berbeda, dari penampilan,karakter, dan sudut pandang. Bagaimana akhirnya mereka saling mempengaruhi, dan merasa sisi yang berbeda itulah yang membuat mereka memiliki nilai lebih dibanding yang lain. Tutur kata Lisa Kleypas, seperti biasa, sangat mudah membawa suasana, penggambaran perasaan yang mendekati rasa aslinya (karena terkadang konyol, membaca novel yang menggambarkan keadaan secara berlebihan dan mendayu2,...more

like · see review

Oct 31, 2012 ies rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Hmmm.... mo kasih 3.5 bintang aja tadinya *dtabok* abisan si Heroine nya terlalu pengecut, tp ya tdk bisa disalahkan jg hehehehe :P

Zachary Bronson, si Hero kali ini. Berasal dari kalangan rendah, bahkan mantan petinju bayaran, pokoknya orang miskin deh tadinya. Tetapi, dia memiliki kecerdasan dalam berinvestasi dan menghasilkan uang yang sangat banyak. Singkat kata, dia kaya raya tetapi tetaplah dipandang sebelah mata oleh para ton. Dia membutuhkan seorang istri dari kalangan bangsawan, wanita...more Hmmm.... mo kasih 3.5 bintang aja tadinya *dtabok* abisan si Heroine nya terlalu pengecut, tp ya tdk bisa disalahkan jg hehehehe :P

Zachary Bronson, si Hero kali ini. Berasal dari kalangan rendah, bahkan mantan petinju bayaran, pokoknya orang miskin deh tadinya. Tetapi, dia memiliki kecerdasan dalam berinvestasi dan menghasilkan uang yang sangat banyak. Singkat kata, dia kaya raya tetapi tetaplah dipandang sebelah mata oleh para ton. Dia membutuhkan seorang istri dari kalangan bangsawan, wanita bergelar yang membutuhkan uangnya demi mendaki tangga dalam kebangsawanan.

Hollanda Taylor, si Heroine. Putri seorang Earl (kalo ga salah inget, dipanggil Lady Holly setelah menikah dengan George Taylor putra ke 2 seorang Viscount. Lady Holly seorang janda, setelah George sang suami meninggal dalam usia muda karena demam tipus. Lady Holly memiliki seorang putri namanya Rose. Dia tinggal di rumah keluarga Taylor setelah suaminya meninggal, dan sudah menyelesaikan masa berkabung 3th untuk suaminya. Pokoknya Lady Holly ini menjadi salah seorang janda yg sangat di hormati karena moralnya yg tak tercela.

si Hero dan Heroine bertemu dalam sebuah pesta dansa, Lady Holly yang merasa tertekan dengan keceriaan pesta berusaha menyepi selagi menunggu kusir kereta kudanya menyiapkan kereta. Nah pada saat bersamaan Zach (aku males menggunakan nama Zachary karena jadi inget Zachary Quinto aka si Sylar di serial Heroes yg ganteng tp ternyata gay hehehe)sedang menunggu seorang wanita di ruangan tersebut (biasa lah hubungan gelap gt deh) dan menyangka Holly sebagai wanita itu, tanpa babibu langsung deh di kissu2 gitu, awalnya Holly berusaha melawan tp terbuai.. halah.. bilang aja emang mau *gw sirik*, Pokoknya ya mereka kissu2 dgn hebohnya sampai Holly tersadar dan melarikan diri.

Merasa tertarik Zach, menyelidiki siapa wanita itu dan begitu ketauan kalau dia seorang janda yang "baru" yeah.. Zach mengirimkan undangan ke Lady Holly dgn alasan membutuhkan "Guru" kepribadian untuk dirinya, Ibu Serta adeknya Lizzy padahal ya mau ngerayu si Holly tu. Awalnya Holly datang hanya karena penasaran, se "Devil" apa si Zach, semenakutkan apa dan seganteng apa, apa sesuai denga rumor para ton itu? akhirnya Holly pun datang dan terkesima, bahwa Zach adalah laki2 yg menciumnya waktu itu, tp si Zach pura2 kaga kenal! *hallah*.

Zach menawarkan gaji yang tinggi pada Holly, dgn syarat Holly musti tinggal di rumahnya selama 1th. Holly awalnya menolak, tetapi dengan peninggalan George yg tdk seberapa *bahkan die jg musti numpang di rumah keluarga suaminya* dan Rose membutuhkan dana untuk mahar ketika dia dewasa (makin gede mahar seorang wanita maka dia akan semakin laris begitulah para ton itu beranggapan) akhirnya Holly terima tu kerjaan, meski diomelin seisi rumah keluarga Taylor. Sebenernya si Holly jg penasaran sama si Zach karena menganggap Zach itu berbeda dr semua orang yg selema ini dia kenal. Maka tinggalah, Holly, Rose dan Maude si pelayan di rumah Zach si setan.

*gw cape dan mau maksi* jadi apakah Zach berhasil merayu Holly? dan apakah Holly rela dirayu si "Setan" ya baca sendiri lah.. bagiku si Holly ini mikir kepanjangan dan mikir kebanyakan, tp pada masa itu ya.. perbedaan status itu penting banget yak.. laper udah ah... baca yah XD (less)

like · see review

May 08, 2012 ALPHAreader rated it 4 of 5 stars

Lady Holly Taylor is in her third year of mourning. Her husband, George, suddenly died of typhoid three years ago, leaving Holly with little money and their daughter, Rose, to raise by herself. Luckily for Holly and Rose, George’s family have been more than accommodating, and insist that they will look after them for all time.

But Lady Holly is struggling in her widowhood. After three years she is now allowed to wear more modest colours, not just black shrouds. She is also expected to step back i...more

2 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2012 Celina rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-hero, historical-romance, fave-author-autobuy, society-dictates-it-s-wrong-love, owned-copy, lisa-kleypas, k-l-m-n-authors

Yey! Another Kleypas success!
When I opened this book and it had a smaller font than the other books, I was so happy because I knew this one was gonna be a loooooong one.
(view spoiler)

Holly or Holland (awesome name for the heroine by the way) was widowed. Tired of the normal, widow life, she looks for something different and she does! Zachary Bronson offers...more

2 likes · like · see review

Mar 01, 2012 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance

Lady Holly truly mourns the loss of her husband, even three years later, but it is time for her to venture out into society once more. At her first ball, she has an unusual run-in with Zachary Bronson, a very wealthy upstart who is only grudgingly accepted into the fringes of society.

Zachary has a way of getting what he wants -- and he wants Lady Holly. He convinces her to work for him, teaching his family manners. But having her under his roof isn't everything he'd hoped. She's far too good fo...more

1 like · like · see review

Jan 27, 2012 Catherine rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: owned

Lovely, good and widowed Lady Holland Taylor attends her first ball after three years of mourning for her late husband. Her marriage to the man of her dreams had been full of love and produced a baby daughter when her husband, George, was taken by illness. Shattered, his family sheltered her as a living homage to George, and she is only just re-entering society when a stranger mistakes her in the dark and passionately kisses her. The first kiss was excusable, but why then did she kiss him back?

B...more Lovely, good and widowed Lady Holland Taylor attends her first ball after three years of mourning for her late husband. Her marriage to the man of her dreams had been full of love and produced a baby daughter when her husband, George, was taken by illness. Shattered, his family sheltered her as a living homage to George, and she is only just re-entering society when a stranger mistakes her in the dark and passionately kisses her. The first kiss was excusable, but why then did she kiss him back?

Brawny, streetwise and ambitious Zachary Bronson may have just made the best mistake in his life. In only a few years he rose from crushing poverty and low birth to challenge all ideas of class superiority, becoming an economic force. Now, to benefit his sister and mother, he is seeking social acceptance, but while many ladies are willing to be his lover, none are willing to give their title and marry the unpolished man.

Though she runs away while both are still stranger to the other, Zachary recognizes that Holly is the sweetest thing he's ever held. Nothing will stop him from finding her and working his way into her life, but he soon realizes that more than scandal stand in the way. Her thoughts still belong to her lost love, and while Zachary could claim her body, he discovers it's the heart of this graceful and kind lady that he truly desires. Can Holly learn to risk all she's known for the love of this singular man?

Note: Took me forever to write this blurb. I hope it captures how truly heartbroken Holly is over the death of her young and genuinely good husband George, while hinting at what dynamic Zachary has to offer her. Being with him not only challenges her belief that George took all her love with him to the grave, but it challenges her to grow. Helping to teach his family, Holly realizes many of the manners and rules of her life have no good reason for existing other than to create and reinforce classes. Zachary and his beliefs challenge her to form her own opinions, separate from what George might have wanted or known. While Zachary is criticized by others for his financial ambition and support of social and technological progress, Holly comes to recognize the jealousy and fear in these remarks. Meanwhile, Holly challenges Zachary too, but I'm not going to give that away. :D(less)

1 like · like · see review

Dec 08, 2011 Lucie rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Impressions:
Lorsque je suis malade, je suis assez souvent grognon et frustrée que la crève ne passe pas assez vite. Du coup, j'ai tendance à regarder ou lire des trucs de filles pour me relaxer. Cette fois, je me suis plongée dans l'univers de Zachary et Holly raconté par Lisa Kleypas.

J'ai passé une bonne partie de ma lecture avec un sourire niais collé sur le visage. Un sourire provenant du personnage masculin, un arriviste un peu pervers qui tente de faire réagir et de choquer la veuve dont...more

like · see review

Feb 13, 2011 Manuela rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: prestito, storico

Poche chiacchiere, è un romanzo splendido, che corrisponde perfettamente alla fama che lo procede.
Una storia d'amore magnifica, dove tutto è al posto giusto, e dove la Kleypas ha il suo solito merito di rendere tutti i personaggi veri e reali, con poche pagine.
E' impossibile non innamorarsi di un uomo come Zachary Bronson, ennesimo esempio che gli uomini kleypasiani sono il non plus ultra del genere umano maschile; ed è altrettanto naturale provare grande affetto e simpatia per Holly, una donn...more

like · see review

Nov 11, 2010 skein rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 3-star, rrrrromance-novels

I have read and re-read this approximately three hundred times this week. It is the only printed material in this hotel room, with the exception of a pamphlet extolling a virtuous free breakfast available from 7-10 am in the lobby and my ASL text, and I'm in no mood to study ... Every time I pick it up, the pages ruffle and smoke goes into my lungs and I'm stuck coughing again. It's a library book, the first book I touched after the fire, when I was shaking and shaken and looking for something l...more

like · see review

Sep 16, 2010 Jane Stewart rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-romance-prior-to-wwll

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Weak plot. Heroine was too illogical. The heroine Holly had terrible judgment. She made stupid decisions.

She was a respected lady and a widow. A rich commoner Zach offers her a job for a huge amount of money which would tarnish her reputation. She decides to take the job to provide security for her daughter and herself.

CAUTION SPOILERS:
Later when she and Zach fall in love, she says she must leave him because it might hurt her reputation. (I thought her reputation was already hurt.) She also didn...more

like · see review

Feb 20, 2010 Jess rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2010, lisa-kleypas

This is my first Kleypas historical that isn't in a series. I wasn't sure if I was going to like it, but I saw that many of my friends had rated it very highly and decided to just give it a try. I ended up really enjoying myself, and read it well into last night, finishing it the same day. I just didn't want to put the book down. Zachary Bronson is a man that is ignored by the peer society in England. They consider him beneath them because he was a "mover up" in society. He was a part of the low...more

1 like · like · see review

Jun 22, 2009 Arlene rated it 2 of 5 stars

Shelves: romance, historical, adult

This is the first book by Lisa Kleypas that I've read, and I was not thoroughly impressed. Kleypas writes a good story with interesting characters, but I just didn't care for how she developed the storyline around them.

Zachary and Holly were very likable characters, and you find yourself rooting for them from the beginning. But Kleypas makes it difficult when the heroine continues to lament over her first husband who died years before these two people met. I could understand sprinkling some of t...more

4 likes · like · see review

May 09, 2013 Mary rated it 3 of 5 stars

I have been reading Lisa Kleypas's more recent historical romances and decided to go back through her older works. "Where Dreams Begin" seems to hold so many similarities to her later books that I see it as a pre-cursor to those that follow:

Successful but common-born Zach -> Simon Hunt from the Wallflowers
Architect Jason, Holly's grieving -> Leo from the Hathaways
Elizabeth's personality -> Lillian from the Wallflowers
Teaching social manners -> Miss Marks from the Hathaways
Zach's inv...more

like · see review

Jul 05, 2012 Juliet rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorite-authors, historical-romance, hot

This was pretty good, but I had a problem with the heroine Holly for a lot of the book. Her over- mourning for her dead husband George was a turnoff. She also seemed goody-goody and self-unaware. It annoys me when people act the martyr, and I always question their motives for doing so. I think the fact that the conflict had to do with a dead character made it less interesting. Zachary was great, and I can see aspects of his character in other LK heros like Simon Hunt and Derek Craven (sigh). I l...more

like · see review

Jun 07, 2012 Lisa rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

C'est mon premier livre de Lisa Kleypas et je suis assez mitigée...

Holly est une jeune veuve aristocrate qui reste enfermée dans un deuil interminable depuis la mort de son mari au combien adoré. Elle pense, et ne le souhaite pas non plus, qu'elle n'aimera plus jamais comme elle a aimé son mari. Mais le fait de croiser la route de Zachary, roturier et "parvenu" à la tête d'une fortune colossale va définitivement la faire changer d'avis!
Un des points qui m'a le plus plût c'est que le héros est un...more

like · see review

Apr 10, 2012 Kimmy rated it 4 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. 4.5 stars.

This book is freaking super-duper holy-moly pow-wow awesome. Lisa Kleypas's best work yet, I feel.

This romance masterpiece stands out fro her other books in a few ways. One would be the relatively late allusion to... um, physical nearness. Only first (and maybe second, I'm not too sure because I kind of skipped a few parts) base activities were present up till two-thirds of the book, where the physical intimacy escalated. That's a new record for Lisa Kleypas so far!

The story tells how...more 4.5 stars.

This book is freaking super-duper holy-moly pow-wow awesome. Lisa Kleypas's best work yet, I feel.

This romance masterpiece stands out fro her other books in a few ways. One would be the relatively late allusion to... um, physical nearness. Only first (and maybe second, I'm not too sure because I kind of skipped a few parts) base activities were present up till two-thirds of the book, where the physical intimacy escalated. That's a new record for Lisa Kleypas so far!

The story tells how a widow comes to fall in love with a ruthless, roguish rags-to-riches guy by coming under the employment of the latter. In a way, the book feels a bit like Married by Morning all over again, but only from Catherine's perspective. Still, the book manages to stand out on its own with the added themes of caste differenes, defying public opinion, family ties and socia hipocrisy.

And of course, what makes Where Dreams Begin a Lisa Kleypas book (that's a compliment) are the witty repartee and the soul-touching heartwarming prose. Despite the slightly one-dimensional precious female lead and the slightly predicatable love-at-first-sight theme to which I am slightly averse, there are other good pointd of the book that merit the four stars. The guy is dashingly hot. A bit like Leo, but only having a more worldly presence and compassion. And surprisingly, again, has made the climax less predicatable, or at least, discernable. For a few times into the plot, I truly felt like the romance would be doomed! No spoiler though. (Although you might have already guessed the conclusion of the book.) And the book has significantly less love-making! Yay!

And of course, I'd like to end off my review with beautiful reverent words, that, dismayedly, I cannot call my own:

Sweet lady…tell me why a kiss makes you cry .

"For the first time I'm glad my brother is dead. I'm glad he can't see what is happening to you."

“So your rank was always higher than your husband's,” he(Mr Bronson) said. “In a way, you married down.”
“Technically,” she(Holly) admitted.
Bronson seemed to savor the information. Holly had the impression that for some reason the idea pleased him. “What would happen to your rank if you married a commoner?” he asked idly. “Like me, for example.”
Flustered by the question, Holly drew away from him and resumed her seat. “Well, I…I would remain ‘Lady Holland,’ but I would take your surname.”
“Lady Holland Bronson.”
She started a little at the strange sound of her own name being joined with anything other than Taylor. “Yes,” she said softly. “In theory, that is correct.”

Holly glanced into her daughter's small face. Rose seemed to be holding her breath, waiting with silent excitement to see if her unexpected champion would succeed at gaining her a place at the adults' dinner table. It would be easy for Holly to insist that Rose adhere to the traditional mealtime separation between grown-ups and children. However, as Bronson and the little girl both stared at her expectantly, Holly realized with a flash of amused despair that yet another boundary was to be broken.
“Very well,” she said. “If Rose behaves well, she may take meals with the family from now on.”
To Holly's surprise, Rose flew to Bronson with an exclamation of happiness and threw her arms around his leg. “Oh, Mr. Bronson,” she cried, “thank you!”
Grinning, Bronson disentangled her little arms and sank to his haunches. “Thank your mother, princess. I only asked. She was the one who gave permission.”
Bouncing back to Holly, Rose decorated her face with kisses.

“Stay with me,” Bronson murmured. “The night is half-gone already.”
“Mr. Bronson,” she asked suspiciously, “are you trying to compromise me?”... “I could be. Why not spend the next few hours with me on this settee?”
“Talking?” she asked faintly.
“Among other things... I promise you would enjoy it. And afterward we'll blame it on the wine.”...
She frowned at him. “You've propositioned the wrong woman, Mr. Bronson. There are a hundred reasons why I would never dothat with you.”
“Tell me a few.” His black eyes were wickedly inviting. She waggled an unsteady finger in his face. “Morality…decency…self-respect…the responsibility to set an example for my daughter…not to mention the fact that any indiscretion with you would make it impossible for me to stay.”
“Interesting,” he mused. “You listed every reason except the one that truly matters... You forgot to say that you don't desire me.”

Maude frowned uneasily. “If I may ask, sir, what did you do in Lady Holland's room for so many minutes?”
“I ravished her while she was unconscious,” he said gravely. “it took a little longer than I expected.”
“Mr. Bronson,” the maid exclaimed in outrage, “that is a wicked thing to say!”
“Settle your feathers,” he said with a faint smile. “I merely stayed with Lady Holly until she went to sleep. You know I would slit my own throat before causing her any harm.”

“Are you going to cry, Mr. Bronson?” the child asked in concern, coming to stand beside his knees, staring into his downturned face.
He managed to smile at her. “Just a little on the inside,” he said raspily. He felt her little hand on his cheek, and he held utterly still as she kissed him on the nose.

“I had never felt that way before,” she said. “I was utterly lost. I had no control over my heart or my thoughts, and so I was frantic to leave you. Ever since then I've tried to step back into my old life, but the fit isn't right anymore. I've changed. Because of you.” Suddenly she could barely see him through a scalding rush of tears. “I've finally realized that there is something worse than possibly losing you…and that is never having you at all.”

Awww!!!
(less)

like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 99 100 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

There are no discussion topics on this book yet. Be the first to start one »

Recommend it | Stats | Recent status updates

combine
Other Editions (25)

More editions...

Genres

Romance > Historical Romance

385 users

Romance

284 users

Regency

30 users

Historical Fiction

30 users

Adult

15 users

Historical Romance > Regency Romance

12 users

Womens Fiction > Chick Lit

6 users

European Literature > British Literature

5 users

Contemporary

3 users

Historical Romance > Victorian Romance

3 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Lisa Kleypas

LISA KLEYPAS is the RITA award-winning author of 21 novels. Her books are published in fourteen languages and are bestsellers all over the world. She lives in Washington State with her husband and two children.

More about Lisa Kleypas...

Books by Lisa Kleypas

Secrets of a Summer Night (Wallflowers, #1)

It Happened One Autumn (Wallflowers, #2)

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Where Dreams Begin

4 trivia questions

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Where Dreams Begin

“I'll follow you to the next life if I have to," he whispered harshly in her ear. "You'll never be free of me. I'll chase you through heaven and hell and beyond." He continued to whisper without stopping while his hands gripped her body close to his. "You stay with me, Holly," he muttered savagely. "Don't do this to me. You stay, damn you.” — 76 people liked it

“You wouldn't have taken Rose to such a place, would you?"

"Of course not, but she is a little girl, and I'm-"

"My life", he interrupted quietly. "You're my entire life. If anything ever happens to you, Holly, there is nothing left for me.” — 30 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Where Dreams Begin
avg rating	preview: Where Dreams Begin Goodreads rating: 3.97 (4934 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/109580.Where_Dreams_Begin?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1301830457l/109580.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/109580.Where_Dreams_Begin?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Where Dreams Begin by Lisa Kleypas[/url]

Where Dreams Begin

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website