Hidden in Dreams

Sep 03, 2012 Laura rated it 5 of 5 stars

Title: HIDDEN IN DREAMS
Author: Davis Bunn
Publisher: Howard Books
July 2012
ISBN 978-1-4164-5672-5
Genre: Dreams \ Fiction \ Psychological Fiction

Do yourself a favor. The next time you receive a book by Davis Bunn, don’t look at the back jacket. Instead, open the book to page one and begin reading. Especially with HIDDEN IN DREAMS, this is really the only way that you can “get” the point this amazing author is trying to communicate. No preconceived notions . . . no spoilers . . . no peeking allowed....more

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Aug 21, 2012 Cynde rated it 3 of 5 stars

Continuing a character he introduced in his novel "Book Of Dreams", Davis Bunn has created a new thriller dealing with the aspects of the financial crisis around the globe.
In "Book of Dreams" we met Elena Burroughs a psychiatrist who specialized in dream interpretation. She is a confident, professional, a prayerful believer. She is approached by the wife of a government official about a recurring dream. It comes to light that several other people are having the same dream. The group works and pr...more Continuing a character he introduced in his novel "Book Of Dreams", Davis Bunn has created a new thriller dealing with the aspects of the financial crisis around the globe.
In "Book of Dreams" we met Elena Burroughs a psychiatrist who specialized in dream interpretation. She is a confident, professional, a prayerful believer. She is approached by the wife of a government official about a recurring dream. It comes to light that several other people are having the same dream. The group works and prays together to solve the callings of God through these dreams. Through no real fault of her own, Elena’s interpretation and actions cause her house to be burned down, her office ransacked and the loss of her job. This is the point where we meet Elena in the sequel “Hidden in Dreams”. Elena has moved from Oxford, England to Florida and accepted a teaching position at a small Christian University. Because of her published book on dream interpretation, an executive of a pharmaceutical company contacts her to ask about a recurring dream that one of their test trial patients is having. The executive is hoping that the dream has nothing to do with a new drug for ADD they are developing and testing with the hope of bringing it to the market soon. Elena agrees to help, but begins to experience the same dream and finds that several people around the world are experiencing the dream as well. In this fast paced thriller we see Elena resort to prayer with trusted friends and other methods of investigation to find the clues behind these dreams. But these dreams are somehow different and she feels her prayers are unanswered.
Even though “Hidden in Dreams” is a sequel the two books can be read alone, the main character is the only carry over. I thoroughly enjoyed “Book of Dreams” finding it interesting, spiritual and exciting. I believed in the characters and while the dreams and the Christian interpretation of dreams was a new subject to me, I thoroughly believed that the group was able to work through the problems they faced through prayer and working together. In “Hidden in Dreams” the story seems rushed, with lots of loose ends that are never tied up such as the hurricane that seems a threat but never seems to get there or the budding love story between Elena and the college president that seems too quick. The book becomes more of a rushed thriller, with the characters rushing on planes from here to there and never really accomplishing anything. It rushes to a thriller typ ending that leaves the reader wanting more. The whole story feels more like a good outline for a good book.
If anything "Hidden in Dreams" debuncts all the good spiritual build up from the first book. It is almost as if Mr. Bunn is refuting everything he got you to believe in in the first book of the series. As thrillers go, “Hidden in Dreams” is a good, if short thriller as a read alone. I ,however, was really disappointed with the outcomes of this book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.
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Aug 14, 2012 Renee rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

Once Dr. Elena Burroughs’ life might have seemed like a dream come true. She had a book on the best-sellers list, a position at a prestigious Oxford clinic, and an Italian financier eager to romance her. But one-by-one those dreams fell through. Even her house burned down. Now her life is one long, dreary disappointment.

When corporate biochemist Rachel Lamprey unexpectedly shows up in Elena’s college classroom to beg for help, Elena senses that something is not quite right. Perhaps Rachel’s per...more

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Aug 09, 2012 Marliss rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

I have a dream, the same dream, which I have dreamed for many years. The setting may be different, but the terror is the same. I am in the dark, and I cannot turn on the light.

Imagine my trepidation when I began reading Hidden in Dreams, by Davis Bunn. In this book, the same series of dreams is dreamt by several dreamers. They are dreams of financial ruin, personally and internationally. Hopefully, my dream is not prophetic, but these dreams seem to be, as events occur in the world. The question...more I have a dream, the same dream, which I have dreamed for many years. The setting may be different, but the terror is the same. I am in the dark, and I cannot turn on the light.

Imagine my trepidation when I began reading Hidden in Dreams, by Davis Bunn. In this book, the same series of dreams is dreamt by several dreamers. They are dreams of financial ruin, personally and internationally. Hopefully, my dream is not prophetic, but these dreams seem to be, as events occur in the world. The question is the source. Are they from God? Is there a rational, scientific explanation? Must those who place their trust in science give credence to the fact that some things just cannot be explained without reference to spirituality and faith?

This book is a sequel to The Book of Dreams. Though it can be read without reading The Book of Dreams first, you will want to read The Book of Dreams also. Elena Burroughs, the protagonist in both books, is a fascinating character with a strong Christian faith which she depends on for direction even when God is silent.

Elena is only one of the rich characters in the book. She is drawn into the dreams mystery by Rachel Lamprey, the antagonistic sister of Elena’s dearest and oldest friend, Miriam, who figured in The Book of Dreams, giving the book of dreams to Elena before she died. Rachel repudiates everything Miriam stood for, but is really not so different from her after all. Jacob Rawlings, a behaviorist who has in the past brutally flayed Elena in a debate is drawn unwillingly into the dreams controversy when a patient of his shares the dreams. He wants a relationship with Elena, but there is one crucial thing missing. The president of Elena’s college, Reed Thompson, and his daughter, Stacy, are both stronger, more compassionate, and more faithful people because of the death of a wife and mother years ago. Even the chaotic weather in Florida during hurricane season becomes part of the cast of characters, lending its ominous beat to the march of events.

The setting of impending worldwide financial collapse, torn from today’s headlines, coupled with a recent re-reading of Larry Burkett’s The Coming Economic Earthquake, made it difficult to read this book. However, Davis Bunn is one of my favorite authors and I have read most of what has come from his pen. And in true, Davis Bunn style, there is a totally-unexpected twist.

The prophetic dreams shared by fifteen people who live all over the world, some with great financial or political influence, powerful financial organizations and business corporations, murders, conspiracies, and the threat of global financial collapse, not to mention romance, all make Hidden in Dreams a compelling and exciting read.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.(less)

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Aug 08, 2012 Connie Mace rated it 5 of 5 stars

Although Hidden in Dreams, book two in the Elena Burroughs “Dreams” series, could easily be a “stand alone” book, I stopped reading after a couple pages in order to read Bunn’s Book of Dreams. As a fan of Davis Bunn’s storytelling, I wanted to know more about the events which brought Dr. Elena Burroughs to the opening scene; however most readers will be fine with the summations in Bunn’s opening chapter and his introduction of a new cast of characters.

Reeling from a whirlwind publicity tour for...more Although Hidden in Dreams, book two in the Elena Burroughs “Dreams” series, could easily be a “stand alone” book, I stopped reading after a couple pages in order to read Bunn’s Book of Dreams. As a fan of Davis Bunn’s storytelling, I wanted to know more about the events which brought Dr. Elena Burroughs to the opening scene; however most readers will be fine with the summations in Bunn’s opening chapter and his introduction of a new cast of characters.

Reeling from a whirlwind publicity tour for her recently revised Book of Dreams, Dr. Elena Burroughs would like to settle down from “a state of perpetual jet lag.” The previous year of helping to form a US financial oversight committee only to see it dissolve, much like her romance with an Italian, has left her emotionally exhausted.

Needing stability in her life as well as her bank account, Dr. Burroughs accepts a professorship with Atlantic Christian University in Melbourne Florida: “a quiet haven nestled between Cape Canaveral and the glitz of south Florida.” (The vivid scenes in which Bunn describes the landscape may be attributed to the fact that he and his wife, Isabella divide their time between that area and England.)

However, Davis Bunn is a master of hooks which compel his readers to keep pages turning. Elena may not have a quiet life for long as she watches rain pelt her classroom window from an approaching hurricane and in walks “Miriam, her best and oldest friend. The problem was, Miriam had died the previous summer.”

Suspense builds as dreamers around the world have nightmares of financial collapse and then, Elena herself has the dream “as though reality itself was undergoing a seismic shift…” In the midst of these nightmares, her friend, Reed cautions to measure all events by what “the Scriptures tell us” as “that is the one eternal, unchanging element by which we must judge everything that life throws at us…”

Good advice. At times, the book’s financial scenario seems to intersect with our 2012 reality; but this is only a novel, is it not? Hold tightly to that thought as Bunn expertly builds tension and the story whirls wildly with a stomach churning roar. Click on the video trailer below for a preview!

Using the Blogger’s Choice Book Review rating system(see my blog at conniemace dot com), I give Hidden in Dreams 5 STARS ***** (Terrific book and would highly recommend buying a copy!)(less)

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Jul 15, 2012 Lisa Johnson rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Title: Hidden in Dreams
Author: Davis Bunn
Year: 2012
Pages: 256
Publisher: Howard Books
Note: A complimentary copy was provided for an honest review. Follow me on twitter @lcjohnson1988 or on my website: http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo...
What does the word dream conjure up in your mind, heart or emotions? Do you ever have dreams that you forget when you awaken or remember and would love to be able to forget? In this wonderful work of fiction, Elena is a writer, college professor as well as a...more Title: Hidden in Dreams
Author: Davis Bunn
Year: 2012
Pages: 256
Publisher: Howard Books
Note: A complimentary copy was provided for an honest review. Follow me on twitter @lcjohnson1988 or on my website: http://seekingwithallyurheart.blogspo...
What does the word dream conjure up in your mind, heart or emotions? Do you ever have dreams that you forget when you awaken or remember and would love to be able to forget? In this wonderful work of fiction, Elena is a writer, college professor as well as a believer. Rachel is a professional woman working for a medical company attempting to find a drug for those with ADHD.
Elena used to really enjoy her profession; she just never imagined her book would get so much recognition as well as bring her a world of hurt. Rachel asks Elena to join her at the company because there are those having the same dream with an unusual compulsion afterwards. Swearing that the new trial medication has nothing to do with it, Elena can’t quite pinpoint how people miles and continents apart could have the same dream at the same time.
Jacob has a practice in a science field too. He is considered Elena’s worst nightmare. Jacob makes it a point to ridicule Elena’s work. How does he get involved with the same company, helping Elena solve a mystery? Reed is the president of a college, widowed, and raising a daughter on campus. Reed teaches Sunday school and has a very interesting resume. He too is pulled into the ever-growing web of intrigue that centers on the company and its new medication.
Reginald handles all of the intricate details of the professional life Rachel lives in the fast lane. Her sister Miriam was Elena’s best friend until her passing. The dreams are real and people want answers. The dreams show what is going to happen, but when? The world financial market is in chaos, and people are running scared all because of the dreams. What part do the dreams play in what is going on in the personal lives of those having the dreams and the world around them? Elena has security all the time because someone believes she needs it. Then, she and others are about to experience a life changing event that has no return to normal if it goes on the road it currently travels.
In a mystery with many twists and turns, Hidden in Dreams takes the reader into various avenues of the world its characters inhabit. From the first page until the very end, you will wonder where it will all end up, and how each piece of the masterly laid puzzle falls into place. In many respects, this novel is also a thriller. It is full of action and adventure with a spellbound story the reader will get lost in. So enjoy this novel as I did. It is a masterpiece in many ways!
My rating is 5 stars.
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Jul 07, 2012 Kathryn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This is the second book in the "Dreams" series by Davis Bunn, a bestselling author. Although it contains the same main character, it can be read as a stand alone book.

Elena Burroughs is a psychologist who specializes in dream interpretation, and she becomes embroiled in a new mystery that defies logical description. Something that has a tinge of science fiction, but the fear factor makes the entire book edgy, especially given today's unstable economic climate.

Can different people have the same...more

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Jul 06, 2012 Geni J. White rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hidden in Dreams, A novel
Davis Bunn ©2012
Howard Books
ISBN 978-1-4165-5672-5
Ppk. 235 pp. plus reading group guide

Dr. Elena Burroughs, world-renowned dream expert, is now teaching at a Florida college, a welcome respite from her past year of overwhelming difficulties. Then a late friend Miriam’s sister, Rachel arrives with a plea for Elena to help a man having dreadful dreams that may impact the launch of Rachel's project, a new medicine for ADHD.

Soon news arrives from around the world of unrelat...more

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Jul 05, 2012 Sara Kovach rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: read-2012

AMAZING! This book is soooooo good. I honestly got more than I had hoped for with this one!! When I first picked up this book for review, I did not realize that it was a second book in a series. Now, I was more than able to keep up with what was going on, but I know that I would have had an even better time reading it if I had read the first book. I also know that I will be picking up the first book, Book of Dreams, as soon as I can!!

The build up and intensity of the writing is something you rar...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Christian Fiction Addiction rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hidden in Dreams is a ridiculously good read, one that was every bit as good as I had hoped for from Davis Bunn. Whenever I sit down to a book by Bunn, I know I am in for a treat, and this book was no exception. The writing was so vivid and intense, the author so successful at submerging me into the plot, that I had to consciously stop reading, force myself to relax, and remind myself I was reading fiction and that this was not reality - I hope! The plot is intricate, filled with unexpected twis...more

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Jun 27, 2012 Joyce Elferdink rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Story Synopsis:

Foretelling the future through dreams is—for nearly everyone—a compelling frame for storytelling. And we all know that not everything is as it seems, but I did not for a moment foresee the surprising twist to the prophesy of these dreamers. As Davis Bunn stated in his author note, he had to use his expertise from several careers to explain the aftermath realistically.
Davis uses the still-desperate economic conditions in the world as a backdrop to send a warning of the lengths to w...more

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Jun 23, 2012 Kevin Denis rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dr. Elena Burroughs, an authority on dream analysis, is living in Florida. In the year following the events of The Book of Dreams, she has been released from her position at Oxford, faced the end of a romantic relationship, and endured a publicity/lecture tour.

Approached by Rachel Lamprey, sister of her dearest friend, Miriam, to look into dreams suffered by dreamers across the world and that foretell economic collapse, Dr. Burroughs finds herself in the spotlight as she attempts to uncover the...more

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May 30, 2012 Kathleen (Kat) Smith rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-action-adventure, christian-fantasy-fiction, christian-fiction, christian-science-fiction, christian-suspense-fiction, christian-teen-fiction, contemporary-fiction, science-fiction-and-fantasy, supense-thriller-fiction, young-adult-fiction

Just when the world's foremost expert on dream analysis, Dr. Elena Burroughs, thinks she is getting her life back under control after losing her position at Oxford University and the man she hoped to fall in love with, she is approached by Rachel Lamprey, the product manager of an innovative new ADHD treatment about to hit the market.

Rachel asks for Elena's help with a clinical trial participant who has had a disturbing dream foretelling a cataclysmic global financial collapse. But even more ala...more
Just when the world's foremost expert on dream analysis, Dr. Elena Burroughs, thinks she is getting her life back under control after losing her position at Oxford University and the man she hoped to fall in love with, she is approached by Rachel Lamprey, the product manager of an innovative new ADHD treatment about to hit the market.

Rachel asks for Elena's help with a clinical trial participant who has had a disturbing dream foretelling a cataclysmic global financial collapse. But even more alarming is the fact that fifteen people scattered across the globe - including Elena herself - begin to experience the same repetitive, devastating dreams of economic ruin just as one bank crisis follows another, suggesting that these aren't merely dreams.

As Elena searches for answers in her professional networks, she is forced to form an unlikely alliance with one of her most vehement critics and is drawn back into the spotlight as the public face of the so-called dreamers. Elena and her collaborators must race against the clock to find the connection between the dreams and the very real events threatening a financial meltdown. It's no longer about just dreams, it's about survival.

In the latest science fiction suspense thriller, Davis Bunn takes his readers on an action-packed, tightly twisted tale of the dream world and how simultaneously people all over the world are having the very same dream with prophetic results and dire consequences in the novel, Hidden in Dreams. Having read Davis Bunn's fictional novels in the past, I was immediately drawn to this one based in part by his amazing ability to engage the reader on one path and before you know it, you wind up somewhere completely unexpected with no knowledge of how you got there. Along the journey you encounter heart-stopping, page turning action and suspense that will make you finish this book in one sitting.

I received Hidden in Dreams by Davis Bunn compliments of Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster for my honest review and can't wait to pick up another of his books in the future. If you are the type of person who loves, suspense, action, along with a little mystery along the way coupled with a great Christian story line, then this is the perfect novel for you. I have to warn you, once you pick up Davis' book, you'll be a fan and want more. This one rates a 5 out of 5 stars and now the wait begins for his next book, due out soon I hope.(less)

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Jul 03, 2012 Sid Frost rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

In Davis Bunn's sequel to The Book of Dreams, Dr. Elena Burroughs has taken a teaching position with the Atlantic Christian University in Melbourne, Florida. Rachel, the sister of Elena's best friend Miriam who had died the previous summer asks for Elena's help. Rachel's company, SuenaMed in Orlando, is about to release a new ADHD medication for children and adults, and they are experiencing problems related to dreams. A number of those testing the medication are having the same dream about a di...more In Davis Bunn's sequel to The Book of Dreams, Dr. Elena Burroughs has taken a teaching position with the Atlantic Christian University in Melbourne, Florida. Rachel, the sister of Elena's best friend Miriam who had died the previous summer asks for Elena's help. Rachel's company, SuenaMed in Orlando, is about to release a new ADHD medication for children and adults, and they are experiencing problems related to dreams. A number of those testing the medication are having the same dream about a disastrous worldwide economic downturn.

Elena talks to Reed Thompson, the president of the Atlantic Christian University, a former economic expert with connections in federal government. She also talks to Jacob Rawlings, an ardent critic of her dream theories, who has a patient who is having the dream, and who now believes Elena is correct about what she has said about foretelling dreams.

Elena has the dream. The same one the others had. Included is a strong urge to warn everyone about the pending economic downfall. Since the urge to warn people is so strong, they wonder if telling the public may stop the dreams. At the insistence of Rachel, and the support of Reed and Jacob, Elena becomes the spokesperson for the dreamers. Soon there are more dreams in which the situation worsens. Some banks begin to fail. There is a debate over whether or not the dreams could be messages from God, since, it is argued, only God can see into the future.

You will need to read the book to find out whether or not the dreams are spiritual. Luckily, that won't take you long. This fast-paced book is designed to be read in one sitting.

Though this is a sequel with references to The Book of Dreams, it stands alone and is quite enjoyable without knowledge of the information in the first book.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255. The book was then donated to a church library.

Read all my reviews here: The Christian Bookmobile (less)

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Aug 22, 2012 Pam Nelson rated it 5 of 5 stars

Hidden Dreams is a sequel to the book, “The Book of Dreams.” It is totally unlike any other novel I have read, and although it’s a sequel, it’s a very enjoyable stand-alone novel as well. As usual with Davis Bunn, this story is full of action, adventure and drama with a good dose of romance thrown in. This drama could have been taken right out of the daily newspaper. The twists and turns kept me turning page after page, hoping to find out what was going to happen! I found it riveting!

Even thoug...more

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Jul 09, 2012 Linda rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Dr. Elena Burroughs, well-known for her controversial dream analysis work, finds herself in the lime-light of the highly pumped media, a position she abhors. They are hounding her about the almost identical, repetitive dreams coming from several individuals world-wide (aka “dreamers”), predicting cataclysmic financial upheavals. Her old enemies become new comrades to make sense of the dreams and whether they relate to side effects of a new drug, SuenaMed, used to treat ADHD.

The dreams, however,...more Dr. Elena Burroughs, well-known for her controversial dream analysis work, finds herself in the lime-light of the highly pumped media, a position she abhors. They are hounding her about the almost identical, repetitive dreams coming from several individuals world-wide (aka “dreamers”), predicting cataclysmic financial upheavals. Her old enemies become new comrades to make sense of the dreams and whether they relate to side effects of a new drug, SuenaMed, used to treat ADHD.

The dreams, however, don’t really seem like actual dreams as much they appear as attacks or visions, repetitively overriding the dreamers’ thought patterns, causing a sense of urgency to tell the world.

Despite the tense episodes, a tentative romance develops between two gentlemen vying for Elena’s attention, making for an interesting dilemma for her. Her choice seems obvious up front, but circumstances change that make you wonder if she will change her mind. It calms down the chaos to help you get a breather from the hectic circumstances.

Foretelling through dreams is not a concept that I am familiar with, but it’s an interesting, creative concept for presenting cataclysmic overtones. Since we are currently living in a volatile financial world today, these dreams could easily send the public into a frantic frenzy. It seemed real enough to make me wonder for a time what would happen to my own finances should something like this happen. Davis has done a great job in upping the anxiety as the dreams unfold. The twists in the scenarios took me by surprise, making this another great read by Davis Bunn.

The qualities and peculiarities of each character seemed to be realistic and very tense at times due to the traumatic responses to the dreams. The tempo of the media, the rush to action to curb distress, the last-minute meetings, and the frenzy of the people were well described.

I did enjoy the aspect that some of her co-workers were fellow believers, and they were open to praying over situations, with Dr. Elena sensing protection because of their prayers.

Check out Davis Bunn’s book, Hidden in Dreams, for a new perspective on the possibilities of our world’s economics, as well as a great suspense. And don’t forget Book of Dreams by the same author, the prequel to this book.

My Rating:

I would rate the book at a 4.5. Davis did an excellent job at creatively presenting the chaotic scenarios with the public’s frantic frenzy of a ‘rush’ at the banks and the media race for first dibs on the dreams. The media can be like pariahs and people do panic! The book distinctly pulls on the emotions of the volatile financial market of today’s world.

I was confused over the issue of foretelling and prophecy, as there is a fine line between the two terms. I found this aspect disconcerting and a little off-kilter for me, feeding into the New Age ‘spiritual’ messages. I will agree it was handled quite well by Dr. Elena, though.

The fact that there are several books out on cataclysmic chaos in the financial world, this just seemed like just another one in some aspects. But Davis’ creativity puts it in a completely different realm.

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255.(less)

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Nov 22, 2012 Georgann rated it 5 of 5 stars

Loved it! Book 2 following Book of Dreams. When I started it, our main character, Elena, was no longer in any of the same places she was when book 1 ended, and I felt disappointed, because I really wanted her to move forward. But she did, and in a mighty way. Also, the book was not as visually mystical as book 1, and I was a little disappointed in that, but as I read, I discovered it had a beauty of language all it's own.
I was enthralled with this new story, and when it took a giant shift in t...more

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Jul 19, 2012 Cheryl Olson rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: reviews-2012

There is a reason that Davis Bunn is an award winning author with national bestsellers to his credit- he’s just plain good. And not only is he good, he is also diverse in his writing which is kind of fun as a reader to get different genres for the price of one. In his new sequel to The Book of Dreams, Davis Bunn brings Hidden in Dreams with the ever controversial Dr. Elena Burroughs once again at the center of things trying to pick up the pieces of her life that has somewhat spiraled out of cont...more There is a reason that Davis Bunn is an award winning author with national bestsellers to his credit- he’s just plain good. And not only is he good, he is also diverse in his writing which is kind of fun as a reader to get different genres for the price of one. In his new sequel to The Book of Dreams, Davis Bunn brings Hidden in Dreams with the ever controversial Dr. Elena Burroughs once again at the center of things trying to pick up the pieces of her life that has somewhat spiraled out of control. As she is trying to rebuild her professional reputation, heal from a romance gone wrong and move forward in her life, she finds herself in the middle of yet another controversy involving dreams.

This time the controversy revolves around a nightmare that is very vivid and real and quite specific and is a warning in nature as several people around the globe are having the exact same dream. Elena herself is one of the “dreamers” and a real sense of foreboding and the need to share the news with the world, is present in every single person that dreams the dream. As Elena is trying to follow God’s lead on the whole dream phenomenon and what it might mean, she learns a lot along the way, about who God is, how he operates and who exactly He has brought into her life and for what purpose- that’s a lot for a girl to learn! Also present in this story is her arch nemesis Dr. Jacob Rawlings who all but ruined her professional reputation through a debate in which he dressed her down quite soundly with regards to her dream interpretation. However because of his own journey and situation with a client having the “dream” he is forced to re-think his stand on dreams himself, and as a result in working together, the two forge a friendship.

This story was very interesting to read and its pacing was picture perfect as the mystery and different parts to the story unfold. It was that book that kept you reading for sure to find out in the end what was going on and what it meant for all the people involved, end of the world stuff, or…? Very well done.

If you enjoy a page turner with great characters, a spiritual journey and a bit of mystery, I think you should pick up Hidden in Dreams by Davis Bunn. It’s a great read.

4 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
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Sep 14, 2012 Jocelyn Green rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

I enjoyed this book very much. The topic is timely and should capture your attention right away, the characters were easy to relate to and understand, and the story moved along quickly. Bunn does a great job of using simple language (not simplistic, but not ornate) to transport readers into the story world, and he sustains interest until the last page. The spiritual elements aren't just inserted here and there, but are woven naturally throughout the book. In fact, the book would not be complete...more

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Sep 16, 2012 Nona King rated it 4 of 5 stars

While this installment was not as captivating from the first page as the first book, Book of Dreams, I continued reading due to my connection with the main character, Dr. Elena Burroughs. I wanted to see how the possibilities had come to fruition from the first book. To see her happy and healing. Unfortunately, or fortunately for this book, those happy possibles had not come to pass, throwing me into the immediate area of sympathy and compassion. Then, as the conflicts began to arise, and other...more

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Aug 25, 2012 Karen Linton rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: christian-fiction

That's how I really measure a book. Will I re-read it? Is it worth buying a copy (as opposed to reading the library's only) and keeping it at home. For Hidden in Dreams, the answer is yes.

I finished the book on Monday or Tuesday, but have spent the days since digesting it. And the conclusion is, this is a must read book. I went into this book a Davis fan and that gave it a bit of an advantage, but it didn't matter. The storyline that so obviously touches on the things happening in our economy n...more

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Nov 06, 2012 Patricia rated it 5 of 5 stars

This was the first book I've read by Davis Bunn. I enjoyed his writing style and the themes were very well researched. Also, this book was very relevant considering the financial condition the world is in. Reading 'Hidden in Dreams' at this time really opened my eyes to how the countries are so dependent on the economies of each other and how technology has developed to link us all. As a Christian book, I felt this showed the very possibility of the things predicted in the Bible for a time 'when...more

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Aug 20, 2012 Lpc rated it 3 of 5 stars

I didn't like this book as much as the first one. While the other book brought the idea of the divine in the source of the dreams, in this book, the reliance on the divine came first and it took half the book for any of the characters to think of the possibility it might be because of a conspiracy. With the level of education the characters in the book have, you think? I felt that God might be the reason behind these dreams were far-fetched and not entirely believable.

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Jul 27, 2012 Michelle rated it 1 of 5 stars

Shelves: fantasy, not-worth-reading

Don't waste your valuable time reading this one. It is exactly the same as Book of Dreams with a different supporting cast. I'm not only irritated by the fact that he's written the same book twice, but that he's gone ahead and published the same book twice. Readers aren't stupid, but this book assumes that they are.

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Jul 19, 2012 Cara rated it 4 of 5 stars

This is a fast-paced sequel to Davis Bunn's book "Book of Dreams." I discovered it by chance at the library and I really enjoyed it. It's definitely an action read, and the writing feels quick and almost cinematic in pacing. It's interesting, thought-provoking and mysterious.

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Dec 27, 2012 Carrie Hines rated it 2 of 5 stars

I'm not an expert of review, I just know whether I like a book or not. This one was just okay. It had a twist or two and a intertwined love story but it was basically on level with an evening 1-hour tv drama. To really enjoy a book it's gotta be epic. This wasn't.

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Oct 06, 2012 Judy Benvin rated it 1 of 5 stars

I agree with the revue by Michelle - this is a re-telling of the first book - "Book of Dreams" (which I loved). Same story, different characters. Would stand on it's own - but not as a 'sequel'.

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Jun 12, 2013 Mimi rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fun novel, set in Florida...had me literally on the edge of my seat. Loved the international finance and psychology-light aspects. This book is romantic, but in a very level headed way. Something to heartily recommend to folks of any age, even older children.

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Mar 07, 2013 Lisa Gdowski rated it 4 of 5 stars

Quick, easy read. I will likely go back and read the first in the series now. Interesting conspiracy theory.

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Oct 22, 2012 LadyS rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Absolutely gripped from start to.finish..unpredictable, entertaining,.interesting. You will enjoy this book. I think this author is now moved to my fav author list!

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title link	preview: Hidden in Dreams: A Novel
avg rating	preview: Hidden in Dreams: A Novel Goodreads rating: 3.89 (81 ratings)
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BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260103-hidden-in-dreams?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1350927151l/13260103.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13260103-hidden-in-dreams?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Hidden in Dreams: A Novel by Davis Bunn[/url]

Hidden in Dreams: A Novel (Book of Dreams #2)

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