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Lake of Dreams
Dreams and reality collide—with potentially deadly consequences—in this stunning novella from New York Times bestselling author Linda Howard, available for the first time as a standalone ebook at an unbeatable price!
House painter Thea Marlow hasn’t been sleeping very well. Her nights are plagued by dreams, the setting by the water and the mysterious man who appears in them always the same. But the outcome of the dream changes nightly: sometimes the man loves her...and sometimes he kills her. Desperate for some much needed relaxation, Thea travels to her family’s remote country lake house. Imagine her surprise when a knock at the door reveals the man from her dreams...who happens to have just rented the house next door.
So will he love her—or will he kill her?
Originally published in the anthology Everlasting Love by Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz, Linda Lael Miller, Kasey Michaels and Carla Neggers.
House painter Thea Marlow hasn’t been sleeping very well. Her nights are plagued by dreams, the setting by the water and the mysterious man who appears in them always the same. But the outcome of the dream changes nightly: sometimes the man loves her...and sometimes he kills her. Desperate for some much needed relaxation, Thea travels to her family’s remote country lake house. Imagine her surprise when a knock at the door reveals the man from her dreams...who happens to have just rented the house next door.
So will he love her—or will he kill her?
Originally published in the anthology Everlasting Love by Linda Howard, Jayne Ann Krentz, Linda Lael Miller, Kasey Michaels and Carla Neggers.
96 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 1, 1995
438 people are currently reading
649 people want to read
About the author
Linda Howard
221 books7,200 followersLibrarian Note: There is more than one author in the GoodReads database with this name.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
Linda S. Howington is an American best-selling romance author writing under the pseudonym Linda Howard. After 21 years of penning stories for her own enjoyment, she submitted a novel for publication which was very successful. Her first work was published by Silhouette in 1982. She is a charter member of Romance Writers of America and in 2005 Howard was awarded their Career Achievement Award.
Linda Howard lives in Gadsden, Alabama with her husband, Gary F. Howington, and two golden retrievers. She has three grown stepchildren and three grandchildren.
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 150 reviews
October 23, 2018
Thea Marlow has been having some disturbing dreams over the past month. They all involve a man whose face she never sees clearly except for his aquamarine eyes, who sometimes loves her, and sometimes kills her. Thinking she's going crazy, Thea goes to her family's lake house for some relaxation. But while she is there a man (Richard Chance) knocks at her door. He tells her he's renting the house next door. And he's the man Thea has been dreaming about...
Wow, I found this book/novella to be very romantic. I enjoyed the reincarnated lovers theme...the soulmates throughout the years. I liked both Thea and Richard and I was happy to see them get their long-awaited happy ever after.
A beautiful romance by Linda Howard.
Wow, I found this book/novella to be very romantic. I enjoyed the reincarnated lovers theme...the soulmates throughout the years. I liked both Thea and Richard and I was happy to see them get their long-awaited happy ever after.
A beautiful romance by Linda Howard.
March 30, 2016
2.5 Stars
Linda Howard may have been the author of my very first romance read. My mom was a huge fan and as a teen and then again as a college grad finally getting the chance to read for fun again, I'd sneak her books and devour them. LH books are finally being released in eBook format and I couldn't he happier.
Lake of Dreams was originally released as part of an anthology in the mid nineties and at the time I requested the arc, I didn't recall reading it. Unfortunately that changed after five minutes of reading.
Not to say I disliked this the first go 'round, but it wasn't a favorite. I still reread my Linda Howard paperbacks once in a while and in my opinion, you can hardly tell they were written 20 plus years ago.
Okay, if I'm being honest, they haven't aged all that well.
Every time she mentions a pleated skirt, I cringe just a smidge. Still, Mr. Perfect and Open Season are two of my favorite books and the writing speaks for itself.
This book suffers from a so so story to begin with, but add in the fact it was written twenty years ago and it's a recipe for a mediocre read.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Linda Howard may have been the author of my very first romance read. My mom was a huge fan and as a teen and then again as a college grad finally getting the chance to read for fun again, I'd sneak her books and devour them. LH books are finally being released in eBook format and I couldn't he happier.
Lake of Dreams was originally released as part of an anthology in the mid nineties and at the time I requested the arc, I didn't recall reading it. Unfortunately that changed after five minutes of reading.
Not to say I disliked this the first go 'round, but it wasn't a favorite. I still reread my Linda Howard paperbacks once in a while and in my opinion, you can hardly tell they were written 20 plus years ago.
Okay, if I'm being honest, they haven't aged all that well.
Every time she mentions a pleated skirt, I cringe just a smidge. Still, Mr. Perfect and Open Season are two of my favorite books and the writing speaks for itself.
This book suffers from a so so story to begin with, but add in the fact it was written twenty years ago and it's a recipe for a mediocre read.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
May 15, 2016
Lake of Dreams by Linda Howard is a 2016 Pocket Star Books publication. I was provided a copy of this book by the publisher, as an XOXpert, the official street team of XOXO After Dark.
Lake of Dreams was originally published way back in the mid-nineties, but is now available in digital format.
This book is a short story/novella length paranormal romance centered around Thea, a woman haunted by vivid dreams, alternately sexual or nightmarish, in which her dream lover expertly makes love to her, or he becomes the villain and kills her. The dreams are becoming more vivid and more frequent, so Thea decides to spend some down time at her family’s lodge.
But, when a neighbor who introduces himself as Richard, stops by for a visit, she recognizes him as her dream lover.
Is he literally the man of her dreams or is he dangerous?
For the modern reader, the instant connection with the couple may seem outmoded. However, since this is a such a short story, try to stick it out, because there is an explanation for that as the book progresses.
Linda Howard is best known for her romantic suspense novels but has made a few forays into the paranormal realm, too. This story, at least in my opinion, has a sinister quality to it, since, like Thea, we do not know if should trust Richard or not. I often like the hero with a dark past or one that seems a little dangerous, at first. Again, stick with the book, and I think you can see how the author’s method was actually pretty clever.
I enjoyed the dream like quality of the story, and felt the author did a great job of creating that atmosphere of having just woken from a vivid dreams that felt so real, but left you feeling somewhat disoriented and unsure if it was real or not.
The theme throughout the story is trust, mostly the lack of trust Thea has in Richard. But, as we all know, love can exist without trust, but it seriously complicates matters, and most certainly has consequences.
Only love can transcend time, cross over between life and death in order to finally take hold of something that has remained just outside of its grasp for so long. Without trust, love will struggle to maintain it's strength, and until it is firmly established, it can’t grow to its full potential.
Overall, I was happy to discover this lost, and perhaps slightly misunderstood, little gem by Linda Howard. I am seeing several of her backlisted titles reissued in digital format and couldn’t be happier to discover some of her lesser known works and enjoy re-reading some of my favorite titles by one of my favorite authors.
Lake of Dreams was originally published way back in the mid-nineties, but is now available in digital format.
This book is a short story/novella length paranormal romance centered around Thea, a woman haunted by vivid dreams, alternately sexual or nightmarish, in which her dream lover expertly makes love to her, or he becomes the villain and kills her. The dreams are becoming more vivid and more frequent, so Thea decides to spend some down time at her family’s lodge.
But, when a neighbor who introduces himself as Richard, stops by for a visit, she recognizes him as her dream lover.
Is he literally the man of her dreams or is he dangerous?
For the modern reader, the instant connection with the couple may seem outmoded. However, since this is a such a short story, try to stick it out, because there is an explanation for that as the book progresses.
Linda Howard is best known for her romantic suspense novels but has made a few forays into the paranormal realm, too. This story, at least in my opinion, has a sinister quality to it, since, like Thea, we do not know if should trust Richard or not. I often like the hero with a dark past or one that seems a little dangerous, at first. Again, stick with the book, and I think you can see how the author’s method was actually pretty clever.
I enjoyed the dream like quality of the story, and felt the author did a great job of creating that atmosphere of having just woken from a vivid dreams that felt so real, but left you feeling somewhat disoriented and unsure if it was real or not.
The theme throughout the story is trust, mostly the lack of trust Thea has in Richard. But, as we all know, love can exist without trust, but it seriously complicates matters, and most certainly has consequences.
Only love can transcend time, cross over between life and death in order to finally take hold of something that has remained just outside of its grasp for so long. Without trust, love will struggle to maintain it's strength, and until it is firmly established, it can’t grow to its full potential.
Overall, I was happy to discover this lost, and perhaps slightly misunderstood, little gem by Linda Howard. I am seeing several of her backlisted titles reissued in digital format and couldn’t be happier to discover some of her lesser known works and enjoy re-reading some of my favorite titles by one of my favorite authors.
May 8, 2016
3.5 stars!
Being a fan of Linda Howard, I still had no idea that this was a reissue of an old title of hers. Lake of Dreams has an interesting premise that deals with reincarnation and love.
Thea Marlow is a house painter who gets plagued by dreams about a mysterious man. The dream is always the same and as well as the man that appears in them, except for the outcome because on some nights he loves her but in others, he kills her. When a trip to her childhood lake house brought her face to face with the man of her dreams, Thea must confront her fears and end her nightmares once and for all.
I enjoyed this book and I really wanted more. I saw another reviewer who's read the old version of this book and she mentions that there's nothing added to it at all. No new materials whatsoever, which was a little disappointing. As much as I loved the taut atmosphere that this book had, I really wish there was more to it.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
Being a fan of Linda Howard, I still had no idea that this was a reissue of an old title of hers. Lake of Dreams has an interesting premise that deals with reincarnation and love.
Thea Marlow is a house painter who gets plagued by dreams about a mysterious man. The dream is always the same and as well as the man that appears in them, except for the outcome because on some nights he loves her but in others, he kills her. When a trip to her childhood lake house brought her face to face with the man of her dreams, Thea must confront her fears and end her nightmares once and for all.
I enjoyed this book and I really wanted more. I saw another reviewer who's read the old version of this book and she mentions that there's nothing added to it at all. No new materials whatsoever, which was a little disappointing. As much as I loved the taut atmosphere that this book had, I really wish there was more to it.
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
March 28, 2016
Very different from the usual Linda Howard I've read, but I loved it!
Thea has been having disturbing dreams for the last month, all starring a man with striking aquamarine eyes. Her encounters are vivid and alternate from passionate ecstasy to terror. When she fears that her sanity can't stand another night of this, Thea takes a vacation out at the family lake house only to meet the man of her dreams on her doorstep the day she arrives.
I've never read a paranormal romance by Linda Howard so I was a little surprised at the supernatural element in the story. At first I thought Thea's dreams would be explained away with some logical solution, but I was delighted to be wrong and find out the real reason for her dreams.
The story was short, sensual, dark and a little eerie, but never fear, Ms. Howard always leaves with a satisfying conclusion!
A copy was kindly provided by Pocket Star via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Thea has been having disturbing dreams for the last month, all starring a man with striking aquamarine eyes. Her encounters are vivid and alternate from passionate ecstasy to terror. When she fears that her sanity can't stand another night of this, Thea takes a vacation out at the family lake house only to meet the man of her dreams on her doorstep the day she arrives.
I've never read a paranormal romance by Linda Howard so I was a little surprised at the supernatural element in the story. At first I thought Thea's dreams would be explained away with some logical solution, but I was delighted to be wrong and find out the real reason for her dreams.
The story was short, sensual, dark and a little eerie, but never fear, Ms. Howard always leaves with a satisfying conclusion!
A copy was kindly provided by Pocket Star via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
October 13, 2018
I think i am in love...
NO!Scratch that, i AM IN LOVE!
Linda Howard has to be ONE of the MOST Amazing Author on earth.She writes with such simple grace and delivers all you could possible imagine with hero`s and heroine`s to die for.
This Novella "Lake of Dreams" is no exception. Thea Marlow and Richard Chance are two reincarnated soulmates where tragedy strikes them in the every lifetimes they fall in love with each other-as history always repeats itself. They both dream about making hot passionate love with each other every night...and in this twelfth life-time they will meet again. Last chance for their forever...
THIS IS A FRICKING MUST-READ FOR ALL ROMANCE LOVERS!
Thea´s and Richard`s romance are witty,sexy (SO SEXY) and just soooo alluring with a little bit of danger. Thea was so funny in her way of thinking and i just loved her sassy character and Richard...my GOD how utterly SMOKILY SEXY he was.!What a man!So much Alpha in his bold Warrior-like nature...a predator. He unlike her had dreamed about making love to her ever since he was a kid-poor lad,she had destroyed him for every other woman!And the end,Ahh i actually shed some tears...Richard`s and Thea`s love is a Everlasting love.What every woman wishes for herself.!
A Keeper that deserves EVERY STAR you can find!You made a Hit out of this one, Linda Howard!
NO!Scratch that, i AM IN LOVE!
Linda Howard has to be ONE of the MOST Amazing Author on earth.She writes with such simple grace and delivers all you could possible imagine with hero`s and heroine`s to die for.
This Novella "Lake of Dreams" is no exception. Thea Marlow and Richard Chance are two reincarnated soulmates where tragedy strikes them in the every lifetimes they fall in love with each other-as history always repeats itself. They both dream about making hot passionate love with each other every night...and in this twelfth life-time they will meet again. Last chance for their forever...
THIS IS A FRICKING MUST-READ FOR ALL ROMANCE LOVERS!
Thea´s and Richard`s romance are witty,sexy (SO SEXY) and just soooo alluring with a little bit of danger. Thea was so funny in her way of thinking and i just loved her sassy character and Richard...my GOD how utterly SMOKILY SEXY he was.!What a man!So much Alpha in his bold Warrior-like nature...a predator. He unlike her had dreamed about making love to her ever since he was a kid-poor lad,she had destroyed him for every other woman!And the end,Ahh i actually shed some tears...Richard`s and Thea`s love is a Everlasting love.What every woman wishes for herself.!
A Keeper that deserves EVERY STAR you can find!You made a Hit out of this one, Linda Howard!
March 21, 2020
3.5 stars
Short, sweet, and a bit suspenseful.
Thea has been having disturbing dreams involving a mystery man for the past month. Sometimes he gifts her with orgasms, and sometimes he kills her, literally. Thea's exhausted because she's now afraid to fall asleep, nor can she concentrate on her work as a house painter. In order to face her fears, she visits her family's summerhouse and the lake it overlooks which is the setting for the last three of her dreams. Thea's shocked when Mystery Man materializes as her next-door-neighbor. Will he be the man of her dreams or really a nightmare come true?
Big spoiler alert
I've been wanting to read a Linda Howard romance for a while because there must be a reason she's so popular among my GR friends. Then Sandra's great review of this novella prompted me to satisfy my curiosity now as it wouldn't command too much of my time and attention. Well, I'm happy to say that her talent does match the hype and, boy, I want more!
Short, sweet, and a bit suspenseful.
Thea has been having disturbing dreams involving a mystery man for the past month. Sometimes he gifts her with orgasms, and sometimes he kills her, literally. Thea's exhausted because she's now afraid to fall asleep, nor can she concentrate on her work as a house painter. In order to face her fears, she visits her family's summerhouse and the lake it overlooks which is the setting for the last three of her dreams. Thea's shocked when Mystery Man materializes as her next-door-neighbor. Will he be the man of her dreams or really a nightmare come true?
Big spoiler alert
I've been wanting to read a Linda Howard romance for a while because there must be a reason she's so popular among my GR friends. Then Sandra's great review of this novella prompted me to satisfy my curiosity now as it wouldn't command too much of my time and attention. Well, I'm happy to say that her talent does match the hype and, boy, I want more!
September 20, 2019
Novella/short story of lovers trapped in a time travel loop. This is their last chance to make things right.
Very The Lake House except more hero/heroine interaction and more sexual tension.
Very The Lake House except more hero/heroine interaction and more sexual tension.
March 16, 2016
DNF at 50%
Arc provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley
Release Date: May, 2nd
Part of the Netgalley description says: "available for the first time as a standalone ebook at an unbeatable price!"
I admit that that should have given me a hint... so my bad.
Had I done that, I would've discovered that this book was originally published in 1996. Twenty years have passed, so give it some slack, some people might say.
The problem is, this doesn't feel as if it was written in the nineties. It feels as it was written in the eighties.
A paranormal romance written in the "eighties". What could go wrong? -_-
I only requested this, because so far I had loved all Linda Howards' books _ her thriller/suspense books_ that I read. Her heroines have all been strong characters, in possession of clear, straightforward minds. People who know what they have to do to achieve their goal. They would never act as the idiot in this book, who goes walking barefoot in her nightgown with this strange guy some fine morning but I guess that's okay! o_O
Ugh. I am not even going to bother reading the last part, I am so mad with the whole thing.
DNF.
Arc provided by Pocket Books through Netgalley
Release Date: May, 2nd
Part of the Netgalley description says: "available for the first time as a standalone ebook at an unbeatable price!"
I admit that that should have given me a hint... so my bad.
Had I done that, I would've discovered that this book was originally published in 1996. Twenty years have passed, so give it some slack, some people might say.
The problem is, this doesn't feel as if it was written in the nineties. It feels as it was written in the eighties.
A paranormal romance written in the "eighties". What could go wrong? -_-
I only requested this, because so far I had loved all Linda Howards' books _ her thriller/suspense books_ that I read. Her heroines have all been strong characters, in possession of clear, straightforward minds. People who know what they have to do to achieve their goal. They would never act as the idiot in this book, who goes walking barefoot in her nightgown with this strange guy some fine morning but I guess that's okay! o_O
Ugh. I am not even going to bother reading the last part, I am so mad with the whole thing.
DNF.
July 2, 2024
A magical romantic novella!
Get the premise: For a month now, sensible single Thea have been dreaming every night of some mysterious man making passionate incredible love to her.
Those dreams sounded so real and yet Thea don't know any man with a scar on his thighs, or vivid blue eyes or long dark hair.
What made her more confused and questioning her sanity is that man appeared in some dreams to KILL her right after making love her.
So what's the secret?
Get the premise: For a month now, sensible single Thea have been dreaming every night of some mysterious man making passionate incredible love to her.
Those dreams sounded so real and yet Thea don't know any man with a scar on his thighs, or vivid blue eyes or long dark hair.
What made her more confused and questioning her sanity is that man appeared in some dreams to KILL her right after making love her.
So what's the secret?
Read
March 22, 2016Review to come......
July 14, 2020
Thea Marlow believes she is losing her mind. Every night she has erotic dreams of a man who stirs her fantasies. She cannot see his features clearly but knows she loves him. Many of those nights she dies by his hands at the end of the dream. Thea is afraid to sleep. Her work is suffering and she decides to go to her family's lakeside cabin for a rest. Thea has only started unpacking her bags when the neighbor renting another cabin knocks on her door. When she answers, she finds the man who stars in her dreams every night. Thea and Richard have lived many lives...all ending tragically. Can they get it right this time?
This reincarnation story was okay, but really has nothing new. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
This reincarnation story was okay, but really has nothing new. My rating: 2.5 Stars.
May 8, 2016
I have been undergoing a vicious dry spell in my reading the last couple of months. Every single book that I have picked up to read (some even from my favorite authors) have proved to be lackluster in some way and I eventually put them on hold. There were times I kept wondering whether romance genre altogether had lost its appeal to me. Maybe I had come to my saturation point where my beloved genre was concerned – all very alarming conclusions of course for someone who seldom goes on to read other genres.
Then I picked up Lake of Dreams by Linda Howard, up for grabs on Netgalley. Linda Howard has been a legendary writer back in the day. Her recent novels have lacked the punch that is the usual accompaniment of her novels. I actually believed this to be a full length novel and one that has not been previously published – I was wrong on both accounts. But the story that Lake of Dreams delivered is the reason why Linda Howard rose to stardom in the first place.
Theadora Marlow, a house painter who seems to lead a reasonably normal life is being plagued with dreams of the erotic variety. The man who visits her in the dreams takes her, possesses her in ways that she would never have thought possible, and yet at the end, always leaves her aching and crying for more when she eventually wakes up. Thea becomes affected to the point where she cannot concentrate on much, going to sleep itself becoming one of the hardest chores of her life.
To get away from it all, Thea makes her way to her family’s summer vacation cabin, hoping to let loose and relax without anyone intruding on her. However, as soon as she turns up, Richard Chance comes calling, the embodiment of the very man who has been visiting her dreams, some of it ending with a less than favorable impression of the man, leaving her bewildered and scared at the same time.
The short story that unfolded proved to be the balm that my frayed soul required, the water to my parched throat, the book that answered every single of my needs when it comes to reading romances. This was the Linda Howard that I remember, that I want to remember and keep in my memories and recall them from time to time. Earthy heroes, feisty heroines and a love so affecting that one can never be removed from it, if at all.
I could not help but sigh as I turned the last page – because that is what a good book does to a soul that is starved for one.
Recommended!
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
Then I picked up Lake of Dreams by Linda Howard, up for grabs on Netgalley. Linda Howard has been a legendary writer back in the day. Her recent novels have lacked the punch that is the usual accompaniment of her novels. I actually believed this to be a full length novel and one that has not been previously published – I was wrong on both accounts. But the story that Lake of Dreams delivered is the reason why Linda Howard rose to stardom in the first place.
Theadora Marlow, a house painter who seems to lead a reasonably normal life is being plagued with dreams of the erotic variety. The man who visits her in the dreams takes her, possesses her in ways that she would never have thought possible, and yet at the end, always leaves her aching and crying for more when she eventually wakes up. Thea becomes affected to the point where she cannot concentrate on much, going to sleep itself becoming one of the hardest chores of her life.
To get away from it all, Thea makes her way to her family’s summer vacation cabin, hoping to let loose and relax without anyone intruding on her. However, as soon as she turns up, Richard Chance comes calling, the embodiment of the very man who has been visiting her dreams, some of it ending with a less than favorable impression of the man, leaving her bewildered and scared at the same time.
The short story that unfolded proved to be the balm that my frayed soul required, the water to my parched throat, the book that answered every single of my needs when it comes to reading romances. This was the Linda Howard that I remember, that I want to remember and keep in my memories and recall them from time to time. Earthy heroes, feisty heroines and a love so affecting that one can never be removed from it, if at all.
I could not help but sigh as I turned the last page – because that is what a good book does to a soul that is starved for one.
Recommended!
Rating = 4.5/5
For more reviews and quotes, please visit, www.maldivianbookreviewer.com
May 2, 2016
ARC provided by the Publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
It was way to short with little character development and almost no plot to speak of. You are dropped into the middle of a very erotic dream and spend the rest of the story trying to figure out why. Linda Howard has used the dream lover in other books, probably later ones. She got it better in the later books.
Expectations are nasty little buggers. I expected more depth in the characters and some reason - like being chased by an evil down through the ages (oophs, that's another LH book). Anyway, I need to evaluate this book on what it is, not what I expected it to be. That's a problem I have when I read an author I know and the work just doesn't measure up. For what is was, it was good, a fun diversion for a few hours. 3 1/2 stars
It was way to short with little character development and almost no plot to speak of. You are dropped into the middle of a very erotic dream and spend the rest of the story trying to figure out why. Linda Howard has used the dream lover in other books, probably later ones. She got it better in the later books.
Expectations are nasty little buggers. I expected more depth in the characters and some reason - like being chased by an evil down through the ages (oophs, that's another LH book). Anyway, I need to evaluate this book on what it is, not what I expected it to be. That's a problem I have when I read an author I know and the work just doesn't measure up. For what is was, it was good, a fun diversion for a few hours. 3 1/2 stars
April 5, 2016
Lake of Dreams by Linda Howard
LAKE OF DREAMS was good blend of romance and mystery. As it was short story, then no character development, and no plot -- its just very sensual short story of destined soulmates that just can't seem to get it right. But they have been given last chance to find trust and love...
LAKE OF DREAMS was good blend of romance and mystery. As it was short story, then no character development, and no plot -- its just very sensual short story of destined soulmates that just can't seem to get it right. But they have been given last chance to find trust and love...
April 8, 2016
This review was facilitated by the generous gifting of Linda Howard's Lake of Dreams by its publisher Pocket Star Books, an imprint of Simon & Shuster, inc., originally published in 1995, in advance of its May 2nd, 2016 publication date in electronic format, through a request on netgalley.com.
Linda Howard is a versatile writer who has dabbled in a multitude of sub-genres within the romance genre: everything from Harlequin-style stories, to romantic suspense, Southern gothic, cowboy romances, and vampire lore to name a few. So it was without surprise that I realized within the first few pages of her novella, Lake of Dreams that I was going to go through another of her writing experiments, this time into the realm of the supernatural, and more specifically, reincarnation.
There is nothing groundbreaking in the storyline itself. A contemporary woman starts having erotic dreams that sometimes conclude into nightmarish visions of her murder at the hands of her lover, with an increasing frequency and a degree of intensity that leads her to wonder if she is losing her mind or if there is something else at play here. Retreating to her family's lake house to get her bearings, she naturally comes across the real-life embodiment of the man who has been haunting her subconscious and he seems more than aware of her dilemma. Or is he also a figment of her imagination?
The shortness of the book and the author's obvious intent to write a straight romance prevented the opportunity to explore in greater depth what could have been an interesting psychological thriller, the type of which Daphne Du Maurier and Henry James excelled at, in which the reader would not know with certainty how reliable the narrator is and whether the facts described are mere hallucinations, straight-up supernatural phenomenon, or something murkier and more menacing that lies between the world of the living and the dead, the conscious and the subconscious.
I think that readers who want to experience a quick, satisfying read on a rainy day while sipping on red wine and munching dark chocolates would certainly enjoy Howard's straightforward approach to a supernatural story that is low on suspense and high on eroticism. She is a great story-teller and a masterful craftsman when it comes to her prose. I myself enjoyed Lake of Dreams for the short time that it held my attention, but I don't think this will be one of those timeless, memorable stories that I will think about long after I arrived at its conclusion.
Linda Howard is a versatile writer who has dabbled in a multitude of sub-genres within the romance genre: everything from Harlequin-style stories, to romantic suspense, Southern gothic, cowboy romances, and vampire lore to name a few. So it was without surprise that I realized within the first few pages of her novella, Lake of Dreams that I was going to go through another of her writing experiments, this time into the realm of the supernatural, and more specifically, reincarnation.
There is nothing groundbreaking in the storyline itself. A contemporary woman starts having erotic dreams that sometimes conclude into nightmarish visions of her murder at the hands of her lover, with an increasing frequency and a degree of intensity that leads her to wonder if she is losing her mind or if there is something else at play here. Retreating to her family's lake house to get her bearings, she naturally comes across the real-life embodiment of the man who has been haunting her subconscious and he seems more than aware of her dilemma. Or is he also a figment of her imagination?
The shortness of the book and the author's obvious intent to write a straight romance prevented the opportunity to explore in greater depth what could have been an interesting psychological thriller, the type of which Daphne Du Maurier and Henry James excelled at, in which the reader would not know with certainty how reliable the narrator is and whether the facts described are mere hallucinations, straight-up supernatural phenomenon, or something murkier and more menacing that lies between the world of the living and the dead, the conscious and the subconscious.
I think that readers who want to experience a quick, satisfying read on a rainy day while sipping on red wine and munching dark chocolates would certainly enjoy Howard's straightforward approach to a supernatural story that is low on suspense and high on eroticism. She is a great story-teller and a masterful craftsman when it comes to her prose. I myself enjoyed Lake of Dreams for the short time that it held my attention, but I don't think this will be one of those timeless, memorable stories that I will think about long after I arrived at its conclusion.
May 3, 2016
I can't help it, one-clicked this one less than two hours ago and finished stright away!
It's a Paranormal love story, about reincarnation.
If you can suspend your disbelief for this type of story, you will love this sweet story full with past tragedy. Our H and h had many lives together within two millennia, they just normal people so they didn't get to live for thousand years. Hence the so many lived together.
Now their last chance to make it right, in a normal situation you can call this insta-love story, but not really, because they know each other and familiar as a couple for two thousands years.
Anyway I don't care, insta love or slow burn are OK for me as long as well written, and this one Ms. Howard's book for godsake! There is a bit mystery too, why did they end up like this in the first place.
So, it might be written 21 years ago, I still love it very much!:)
Pity tho, I wish a full length novel..
It's a Paranormal love story, about reincarnation.
If you can suspend your disbelief for this type of story, you will love this sweet story full with past tragedy. Our H and h had many lives together within two millennia, they just normal people so they didn't get to live for thousand years. Hence the so many lived together.
Now their last chance to make it right, in a normal situation you can call this insta-love story, but not really, because they know each other and familiar as a couple for two thousands years.
Anyway I don't care, insta love or slow burn are OK for me as long as well written, and this one Ms. Howard's book for godsake! There is a bit mystery too, why did they end up like this in the first place.
So, it might be written 21 years ago, I still love it very much!:)
Pity tho, I wish a full length novel..
June 19, 2018
I would give this story 2.5 stars.
This is a short story novella that was previously released twenty years ago.
The story, itself, is a mix of romance, suspense, and the paranormal. And I would say it's heavy on the romance and light on the suspense.
Unfortunately, for me, I found this story to be a little bit jumbled and a tad unrealistic. I also found the characterization to be quite flat.
I am a fan of Linda Howard, but this definitely wasn't one of her best.
I would like to thank NetGalley, however, for providing me with a copy of this story for an honest review.
This review can also be found at www.whatsbetterthanbooks.com
This is a short story novella that was previously released twenty years ago.
The story, itself, is a mix of romance, suspense, and the paranormal. And I would say it's heavy on the romance and light on the suspense.
Unfortunately, for me, I found this story to be a little bit jumbled and a tad unrealistic. I also found the characterization to be quite flat.
I am a fan of Linda Howard, but this definitely wasn't one of her best.
I would like to thank NetGalley, however, for providing me with a copy of this story for an honest review.
This review can also be found at www.whatsbetterthanbooks.com
April 7, 2016
I was really looking forward to this novella and was provided an ARC via NetGalley and Pocket Star publishers.
And I was really, really disappointed. I started this last night and didn't finish and just set the book aside and went to bed. Hard to believe I set a Linda Howard book aside when I wasn't even that sleepy but I had started to skim due to lack of interest and (dare I say) I just didn't like the story.
For most of this novella our heroine is, again dare I say, pathetic, sniveling weakling wallowing in neurosis. Why should I care about her? Where is the strong female character that LH is known for? This short story is about fate, previous lives and getting life/love right this time around. This can be an interesting concept, it just didn't work for me in this novella.
Although I enjoy a lot of the re-published books by LH, I found I couldn't enjoy this one.
And I was really, really disappointed. I started this last night and didn't finish and just set the book aside and went to bed. Hard to believe I set a Linda Howard book aside when I wasn't even that sleepy but I had started to skim due to lack of interest and (dare I say) I just didn't like the story.
For most of this novella our heroine is, again dare I say, pathetic, sniveling weakling wallowing in neurosis. Why should I care about her? Where is the strong female character that LH is known for? This short story is about fate, previous lives and getting life/love right this time around. This can be an interesting concept, it just didn't work for me in this novella.
Although I enjoy a lot of the re-published books by LH, I found I couldn't enjoy this one.
May 22, 2016
Publication date: May 2, 2016
"A copy of this book has been provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review"
Very good short, fast read.
I love these kind of mystery - suspense - romance stories.
Great ending!
"A copy of this book has been provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review"
Very good short, fast read.
I love these kind of mystery - suspense - romance stories.
Great ending!
April 14, 2024
Well it’s more like 12th chance.
So the MCs keep getting reincarnated over 2 millennia star crossed lovers who can never be together… and this is their last chance.
It’s an interesting premise, but a novella doesn’t do it justice. I think it could have been a LOT better as a novel.
So the MCs keep getting reincarnated over 2 millennia star crossed lovers who can never be together… and this is their last chance.
It’s an interesting premise, but a novella doesn’t do it justice. I think it could have been a LOT better as a novel.
May 16, 2024
I read this novella in Stranger in the Night and rated it 5 stars. Just did a reread and again, I would rate 5 stars. An interesting love story with a slight paranormal twist.
March 11, 2016
Previously published as part of Everlasting Love anthology, this book is a very Linda Howard story; intense and sultry. That saying, I'd prefer her romantic suspense novel better. This one was too predictable and swift; yet left a number of untold elements, like what in their previous life made them being granted chance after chance to outwit fate, what changed in their previous life made the scores more in their favours.
There wasn't much here for me to like the characters, nor to dislike them. It's like people you saw across the street rushing to and from wherever, really. Barely a chance to know them at all.
That is to say, I get the idea: true love, soulmates, cheated by fate and given a dozen chances to make right in another life. It bode an engaging story. Alas, it isn't meant to be, for me.
ARC is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of a fair and honest review.
There wasn't much here for me to like the characters, nor to dislike them. It's like people you saw across the street rushing to and from wherever, really. Barely a chance to know them at all.
That is to say, I get the idea: true love, soulmates, cheated by fate and given a dozen chances to make right in another life. It bode an engaging story. Alas, it isn't meant to be, for me.
ARC is kindly provided by the publisher via NetGalley for the exchange of a fair and honest review.
March 21, 2016
Linda Howard is my favorite romance novelist because of her balance between suspense, comedy, romance, tension, and heat. This short story is a departure that focuses on fateful romance with some heat. It's a bit like On a Clear Day You Can See Forever. I know I have read/watched other past lives romance stories but that was my first and the one I always remember. It's a lovely thought and a nice afternoon read.
June 11, 2016
What a neat story! I really enjoyed the mystical aspect of Richard and Thea's relationship. It created emotional intimacy right from the start, making this novella a very satisfying read.
October 9, 2019
3 stars.
I think I read this novella years ago when it was part of an anthology but it's been quite a while since I've read anything from Linda Howard.
Suffice to say, this confirms my dislike of the reincarnation theme and it's lucky it's only a short read because I was quite nonplus to discover that the H/h went through numerous lifetimes without getting it right and this time it's basically their last chance for that HEA!
My recommendation: Take it or Leave it.
I think I read this novella years ago when it was part of an anthology but it's been quite a while since I've read anything from Linda Howard.
Suffice to say, this confirms my dislike of the reincarnation theme and it's lucky it's only a short read because I was quite nonplus to discover that the H/h went through numerous lifetimes without getting it right and this time it's basically their last chance for that HEA!
My recommendation: Take it or Leave it.
February 24, 2018
Hmmm didn't realize this was a novella when I picked it. Loved it though.
March 24, 2022
Thea Marlowe has been having disturbing erotic dreams in which her lover sometimes drowns her. She decides to take a break from her job as a self-employed house painter and spend a few weeks are her family's lakeside cabin to relax and regroup. Her first day there, she meets Richard Chance, a man who looks strikingly like her dream lover. She finds herself attracted to him, but also in fear of him (after all, her dream lover drowned her).
The story mixes supernatural elements into the modern plot line. An interesting, enjoyable, quick read.
The story mixes supernatural elements into the modern plot line. An interesting, enjoyable, quick read.
May 3, 2016
This one is hard to review properly. I've heard so much about Linda Howard that I jumped at this opportunity to finally read something from her. For what was written it was brilliantly done. The reason its hard to review is because once I was getting into the story it was done. It was just too quick to completely leave me with something to properly review.
Was it well written? Yes. Would I read more from this author? In a heartbeat. Do I wish I had more from this story? Yes. But the idea of the story was great.
Was it well written? Yes. Would I read more from this author? In a heartbeat. Do I wish I had more from this story? Yes. But the idea of the story was great.
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