Let me start by saying I would give These Dreams a 10 star rating if I could. I’ve read and loved all of Nicole Clarkston’s books, but so far this is her best novel and it only proves that talent can produce amazing books, but talent and experience are the recipe for memorable stories such as this one.
In These Dreams, after locating Wickham and arranging everything for his marriage to Lydia Bennet, Mr. Darcy is abducted and taken to Portugal where a mysterious plotline will be developed and new interesting and original characters will make their first appearance.
Darcy will of course return to England, but some parts of the book occur in Portugal and as a portuguese I have to say that it is clear the author did a great job at historical and linguistic research. Everything on the portuguese settings is perfectly accurate, and reading words such as “Amo-te” and “saudade” so well placed in the dialogues warmed my heart. Bravo Nicole Clarkston!
I believe some readers may consider the first part of the book a bit angsty but the intensity of Darcy and Elizabeth’s feelings for one another, and the very special way they were connected, make it a very romantic novel that is pleasing even for those who don’t normally tolerate angst, even because the moments between Darcy and Elizabeth after they are reunited are worth all the angst lived until that moment.
I personally love angsty books so this one was just my cup of tea! I consider These Dreams perfect in every way and I honestly cannot point one single thing I didn’t enjoy. If I have to point something out, it is the fact that there isn’t a prequel written yet. (I’m really cheering for a prequel about Col. Fitzwilliam and Amália 🙂 )
The book is quite long but the cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter and the connections to the subsequent chapters kept me interested until the very end, making it seem a very fast read. In fact, the connection between the ending of one chapter and the beginning of another is part of why I love Nicole Clarkston’s writing so much, these little details in her writing make These Dreams a gripping book.
Apart from Elizabeth and Darcy’s love story, which was profound, solid and beautiful, I absolutely LOVED Col. Fitzwilliam’s love story and love interest! Amália was an incredible character and I wish the author will some day dedicate a book to her and the Colonel. I kept wishing the next chapter would be about them, and sometimes, I even forgot about Darcy and Elizabeth, which says a lot!
These Dreams is a masterfully written story, full of layers and twists that will keep the reader interested until the last page. The character development was incredible, not only when it comes to Darcy and Elizabeth, but also concerning secondary characters like Lydia and Wickham and even original characters such as Amália and her father.
The book approaches several interesting subjects like PTSD, patriotist, religion, honour, trust and love that only add to its complexity and contribute to place These Dreams amongst the best JAFF books out there.
This is a book that should not be missed and I can not recommend it enough for those who like quality literature, mystery and romance.
You can find These Dreams at:
An abandoned bride
A missing man
And a dream that refuses to die…
Pride and patriotism lend fervor to greed and cruelty, and Fitzwilliam Darcy
is caught at the centre of a decades-old international feud. Taken far
from England, presumed dead by his family, and lost to all he holds dear,
only one name remains as his beacon in the darkness: Elizabeth.
Georgiana Darcy is now the reluctant, heartbroken heiress to Pemberley,
and Colonel Fitwilliam her bewildered guardian. Vulnerable and unprepared,
Georgiana desperately longs for a friend, while Fitzwilliam seeks to protect her
from his own family. As the conspiracy around Darcy’s death widens and
questions mount, Colonel Fitzwilliam must confront his own past.
An impossible dream, long ago sacrificed for duty, may become his only hope.
Newly married Lydia Wickham returns to Longbourn- alone and under
mysterious circumstances. Elizabeth Bennet watches one sister suffer and
another find joy, while she lives her own days in empty regrets over what might
have been. Believing Darcy lost forever, she closes her heart against both pain
and happiness, but finds no escape from her dreams of him.
Nicole Clarkston is a book lover and a happily married mom of three. Originally from Idaho, she now lives in Oregon with her own romantic hero, several horses, and one very fat dog. She has loved crafting alternate stories and sequels since she was a child watching Disney’s Robin Hood, and she is never found sitting quietly without a book of some sort.
Nicole discovered Jane Austen rather by guilt in her early thirties―how does any book worm really live that long without a little P&P? She has never looked back. A year or so later, during a major house renovation project, she discovered Elizabeth Gaskell and fell completely in love. Her need for more time with these characters led her to simultaneously write Rumours & Recklessness, a P&P inspired novel, and No Such Thing as Luck, a N&S inspired novel. Both immediately became best selling books. The success she had with her first attempt at writing led her to write three other novels that are her pitiful homage to two authors who have so deeply inspired her.
Nicole was recently invited to join Austenvariations.com, a group of talented authors in the Jane Austen Fiction genre. In addition to her work with the Austen Variations blog, Nicole can be reached through Facebook at http://fb.me/NicoleClarkstonAuthor, Twitter @N_Clarkston, her blog at Goodreads.com, or her personal blog and website, NicoleClarkson.com.
You can contact Nicole through the following links:
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09/19 So little time…; Guest Post, Excerpt, Giveaway
09/20 My Jane Austen Book Club; Vignette, GA
09/21 From Pemberley to Milton; Review, GA
09/22 Interests of a Jane Austen Girl; Review, Excerpt, Giveaway
09/23 Just Jane 1813; Review, GA
09/24 My Vices and Weaknesses; Excerpt, GA
09/25 Babblings of a Bookworm; Guest Post or Vignette, GA
09/26 Diary of an Eccentric; Review, Giveaway
09/27 Half Agony, Half Hope; Review, Excerpt
09/28 Darcyholic Diversions; Author Interview, GA
09/29 My Love for Jane Austen; Charcter Interview, GA
09/30 Margie’s Must Reads; Guest Post, Excerpt, GA
10/01 Savvy Verse and Wit; Review, GA
10/02 Austenesque Reviews; Character Interview, GA
10/03 Obsessed with Mr. Darcy; Review, GA
10/04 From Pemberley to Milton; Guest Post, GA
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Nicole Clarkston would like to offer 10 eBook copies of These Dreams to readers following the blog tour.
Readers may enter the drawing by tweeting once a day and daily commenting on a blog post or review that has a giveaway attached for the tour. Entrants must provide the name of the blog where they commented. Remember: Tweet and comment once daily to earn extra entries.
A winner may win ONLY 1 (ONE) eBook of These Dreams by Nicole Clarkston. Each winner will be randomly selected by Rafflecopter and the giveaway is international.
To enter the Rafflecopter giveaway click here.
Good Luck Everyone!
Can never get enough of Darcy and Elizabeth….
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But believe me, you will want to see more of the colonel too :))
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I would marry the colonel… did I say that already?
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Pingback: New Review of These Dreams on From Pemberley to Milton! – Nicole Clarkston
Don’t include me in the give-a-way… I have the book and I just wanted to comment. I love Nicole’s work and I simply loved this story and absolutely swoon when I think about this Darcy and Elizabeth. It was 5-stars for me… all the way! Wow!! That is all I can say… just wow!
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Thanks for your support of Nicole’s work Jeanne, this book really is special 🙂
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Thank you for stopping by, Jeanne! I treasure your encouragement. I am so glad you loved it!
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I always enjoy reading your breakdown of a story. I’ve already determined to read this one like I do each of Nicole’s books, but its nice to know what to expect. Thanks, Rita!
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Thanks Sophia! I’m sure you’ll like this book 🙂
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Rita is an angst junkie. That should give you an inkling!
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Another Portuguese reader here, so this is definitely a must read for me!
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Wait until you read Amo-te!!! I think I went back a dozen times just to read it over and over and over again!!!
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Oh boy oh boy!
I am having some trouble with Amazon right now, hopefully am able to read it very soon!
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You haven’t received the correct file yet?
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Oh, I am not even telling you the mess I made…! It’s embarrassing!
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Do you need a copy of the book? I’m happy to help you out. Initial publication of this book caused me some gray hair!
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Trying to figure it out with Amazon, since I was a silly and deleted the book from my account! Thank you so much for offering, though, that’s incredibly generous and kind of you
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Got it sorted! Starting to read soon!
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Love Nicole’s books especially the North and South – there are so few of them written.
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That’s what the next one will be! I am glad you love John and Margaret too. They are pretty special.
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Fabulous review, Rita! I loved this too from start to finish. It’s great to see Nicole’s book enjoying such terrific success already!
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Thank you Claudine! I can’t wait to read your review and see why you loved it too 🙂 This is definitely an amazing book and deserves all the praise we can get it 🙂
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Thank you so much, Claudine! You guys make writing a book so much fun. I can’t wait to stop by your blog in a couple of days!
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This looks really fascinating! Is there a paperback version?
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Yes, there is. I’m almost sure it is already available at Amazon and create space 🙂
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It is, and yet it is not. In another bizarre twist of Amazon and plagiarism and copyright, I got flagged yesterday to verify ownership and publication rights to the book. They have accepted my evidence, but the link was pulled down temporarily. It should be back again soon.
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Fabulous review, Rita. You did an excellent job giving enough details to entice and draw in readers without giving any spoilers. Very good. I loved your assessment and I agree 100%. It is one of the very best books I have read. It is quality reading!
Thanks, Rita, for sharing your thoughts with us.
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Thank you Janet! I find it is easier to do a spoiler free review when the book has so many interesting aspects to point out. It is not just the excellence of the characters, but everything else in it :)) This book is perfect!!!
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Thank you, Janet! And thank you for egging me on the whole time. I hope I haven’t caused you heartburn or gray hair, but I treasure your support and encouragement. That is to say nothing of that cover! I still shiver every time I see it!
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Sounds wonderful. I especially like that you mention that not only is there an engaging love story with ODC but between the Col. and Amalia.
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Oh… I really fell in love with the Colonel! He was the perfect hero in this book. I think I even prefer him to Darcy on this one, not because Darcy isn’t Darcy, but because the Colonel is just the perfect man in this story when it comes to my standards and preferences. And I obviously loved Amália! I think she is perfect for him, especially once she grows out of her fears :)))
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I’d marry the colonel.
I keep saying that!
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What a perfect review Rita. I agree with every word. The connection between Darcy and Elizabeth is swoonworthy. You know me Rita and my aversion to angst but I’m obviously getting to like it more as this book was amazing. One to ‘re read several times.
Please don’t enter me in the giveaway.
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Thank you Glynis. You know I love angst, but I was sure that even people who don’t usually like it would love this book, because there are always several tender moments that will fill the hearts of readers, and the story just gets in our bones and we cannot let it go until we finish, right?
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I am an angst weenie myself! I like happy stories, if that gives you any encouragement. It will all be over soon!
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Fantastic review! I’m nearing the end of the book, and it’s so so good!
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Thank you, Anna, I am so glad to hear this! Looking forward to stopping by in a few days!
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These Dreams is rich in complexity and suspense. I loved Col. Fitzwilliam’s undying support for Darcy and his own struggles with love.Simply an amazing book! (I already have it so no need to enter me in the contest.)
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Rita,
Yes,my dear,you certainly do love angsty stories!!!!
I’m so looking forward to reading this as everyone seems to be singing its praises!!!
Best of luck with this book,Nicole!
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Thank you so much for stopping by, Regina! I am glad you loved it. ❤
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What a wonderful review! I am glad to see that you enjoyed the book so much 🙂
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What she didn’t tell you is that she is the reason for the cultural accuracy. Rita proved an invaluable resource for history and language help, and I would have been lost without her!
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Pingback: These Dreams Blog Tour and Giveaways! – Nicole Clarkston
Oh, Nicole, another book with your classic angst and romance? I’m in. I’m an angst lover like Rita, and your books have just the right touch of it to appeal to all readers, even the angst weenies. And swoony romance, too. I have so many good books in my “unread” file in my Kindle I was going to try to read a few others before this one. But if Rita says it’s her fave ever of your books, I have to read it soon. Thanks, Rita, for an excellent review that teases the reader and tells enough to entice.
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Thank you, Suzan! We seem to publish on about the same schedule, because I have your new one sitting at the top of my list! I hope you enjoy TD, and I’m looking forward to your dashing cover tomorrow!
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I love angst, even though it makes my heart and eyes hurt. Been following this book tour and really cant wait to read Nicole’s new book!!
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Thank you for stopping by, Priscilla! Good luck in the drawing!
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Exquisite book, I simply can’t praise it enough!!!!! Such an original plot, so complex and full of twists and mystery, and what a bond between Elizabeth and Darcy! Magnificent! Thanks for writing this amazing story, Nicole, and thanks, Rita, for the beautiful post and everything else. Please don’t enter me in the giveaway, I’ve already devoured this gorgeous book. Best wishes on the blog tour, Nicole, and I hope your muse is busy busy busy.
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I believe it is your turn, milady! I dearly hope you have something in the works. I’m still starry-eyed from The Unthinkable Triangle! Thank you so much for stopping by, Joana. Cornwall is calling my name… one of these days!
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Wonderful review. I can’t wait to read
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I’m rooting for you to win, Becky!
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Wonderful review, Rita! Can’t wait to meet the new characters!
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I hope you enjoy them, Maria!
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I agree that Nicole writes fabulous books, and I have loved them all. Thank you for your review. I, too, like some angst. This is a totally different plot! Thank you for the giveaway.
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Thank you for your kind words, Eva! It means a great deal to me. I hope to have many more to follow!
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Great review Rita! I love when Colonel Fitzwilliam has a love story too. I can’t wait to read this story. I’m loving the blog tour!
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Hello, Dung! Good to see you 🙂 I’m glad to hear you’re enjoying the tour! Thank you for stopping by.
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Shared again
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This is the first review of These Dreams that I read and now I know how the story goes. Rita, thanks for giving me a peek into what happened to Darcy that cause others to believe that he is dead.
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Wow! Being Portuguese myself I find this one very promising 🙂
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I have been saving this for a day free from physical therapists, nurses, rehab and doctor’s appointments. I know it is long and full of angst and want to be able to read as much as possible in one day as I don’t know if I would sleep with Darcy thought to be dead and a prisoner undergoing torture!
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I like Lydia’s redemption stories, looking forward to reading it
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