We Love Lisa Kleypas discussion

Are you dreaming of Derek? Make yourself at home.

Can I admit to being fickle? Another yummy hero I drool over :)

LOL. Yes, I have to come up with my laminated list, as well!

something I found on her (Lisa Kleypas) website. Reader's asked who is her favorite hero and her answer is "I've given different answers to that question over the years. I love them all for varying reasons. But to me there are a few standouts . . . Derek Craven from Dreaming Of You is special because he was really my first self-made hero, and that opened up a new direction for my career. Zachary Bronson from Where Dreams Begin . . . Marcus, Lord Westcliff from It Happened One Autumn . . . Sebastian St. Vincent from Devil In Winter . . . and I'm getting rather partial to Leo, Lord Ramsay from Married By Morning."

Cool. Thanks for the 411, Pamela. That's a good sign. That means Leo's book is going to be good, if she's thinking about him a lot.

Derek Craven.....(((swoon)))....thud!!

No Kidding!

I like that. Craving Craven. And boy howdy do I. There is just something about him that you just can't not love. He wants to be so tough and not care but deep inside he is desperate for love.

So true, Cynthia!

I have to re-read this one....unless someone can help em out here...I think it was Derek Craven who cut all the clothes off of Sarah(except her stocking) in her families kitchen...these scene just stands out inmy mind for some reason, it was hot!

I guess a reread is in order for me. :)

I'm reading this right now, and I'm loving every second of it. Of course, I fell for Derek while reading Then Came You, so it's not a surprise that he's turning out to be one of my all time favorite heroes. :)

Derek is quite the man. He is unforgettable, and will always be one of my fave heroes, even though it's been a while since I read DOY.

I have just finished rereading Dreaming of You, and OMG Derek Craven *sighs* one of Lisa Kleypas' best heroes...ever! What is their not to love about him? is it wrong to be jealous of a fictional character? because I must confess I am insanley jealous of Sara!

Suzanne, I know what you mean!

Lol, I am glad I am not the only one. At the end when he thinks Sara has died! I love that bit

Oh, me too! It's full of romantic moments for me.

I bawl whenever I read that part.

I know, he finally admits that he loves her out loud. I like it when he slips into cockney when he starts talking about her as he cna't control how he feels,

He's my fave next to Sebastian, that reformed rake just ruined me for other LK heroes. The transition is there and it's gradual, he's a great character. I liked him from the start when I read Lily's story.

I have to say I prefer him to Sebastian (I assume you mean from the Wallflowers?) although I like Sebastian, I really love the rugged hero type more. Yes I liked the slow realization as well,you could see he loved her, he just couldn't say it out loud.

Suzanne wrote: "I have to say I prefer him to Sebastian (I assume you mean from the Wallflowers?) although I like Sebastian, I really love the rugged hero type more. Yes I liked the slow realization as well,you co..."

I found Sebastian a little cold (and too well handled to quote Evie!) for me. Derek has more charm even though it's pretty raw at times.

Yep, I completely agree with you. Plus who would want a husband prettier then they are lol? I do like St. Vincent as he is a good character, however, I don't really lust after him in the way I do Derek Craven and Simon Hunt.

Suzanne wrote: "Yep, I completely agree with you. Plus who would want a husband prettier then they are lol? I do like St. Vincent as he is a good character, however, I don't really lust after him in the way I do D..."

Yes- it's a good story but not my fave hero. You and I are in the minority on this one though!

Ah well, more Derek Craven for us : )

Mshj and Suzanne - you're not on you own. Here's another one 'Craving Craven'.

DEREK CRAVEN! Probably my favorite fictional hero in historical Romance!

Too funny! After I read "The Bow Street Runners" everyone raved about Derek Craven and how I had to read this one. These were the same people who keep me going for the 300 pages it took for moody, cranky Alpha Derek to have a personality transplant and become the fab guy everyone loves. And he was! But every time I think about this one I think about how loooooong it took, and how I almost gave up on him a million times.

Of course we all know why. I have too many of these moody cranky clueless Alphas in my real life. But you are all right. Once he got a personality transplant he was absolutely fab. So I can see why everyone adores him. You ladies just have waaaaaaay more patience than I do with these Alphas. lmao!

Yet another reason why I swoon for Sir Ross in "Lady Sophia's Lover." The man is fab from the first page. He must have known I am an impatient wench. ;)

Laura wrote: "Too funny! After I read "The Bow Street Runners" everyone raved about Derek Craven and how I had to read this one. These were the same people who keep me going for the 300 pages it took for moody..."

I LOVE Sir Ross Cannon, lol, he's the best. He's forgiving and patient with Sophia.

Isn't he? I sooooo WANT him!!! He is what we call a Gamma in the romance biz. Part Alpha in that he was aggressive and protective. And part Beta in that he actually listened to everything Sophia said, rather than stomping off in an Alpha huff and only hearing half of what she said. Betas are NOT afraid of the touchy-feeling emotional stuff, and he certainly wasn't. And he was so compassionate. And HAWT sexually. I just adored him!!! *total swoon*

Laura wrote: "Isn't he? I sooooo WANT him!!! He is what we call a Gamma in the romance biz. Part Alpha in that he was aggressive and protective. And part Beta in that he actually listened to everything Sophi..."


Gammas are great! lol, the alpha problem with assuming and stomping off in a huff usually makes for some frustrating reads, entertaining, but frustrating.

Laura wrote: "Too funny! After I read "The Bow Street Runners" everyone raved about Derek Craven and how I had to read this one. These were the same people who keep me going for the 300 pages it took for moody..."

Have you read "Then Came You"? I thought it was the better book of the series and Alex is rather more the sensitive type. I found Derek an interesting character rather than an ideal- and he also features in TCY where you get a little more background to his story.

Thanks, Mshj! You know what? I didn't even know "Dreaming of You" was part of a series until I saw the really good list at this group. The list I had been given had it listed as a stand alone. So I will definitely read TCY to get the backstory on Derek. Alex sounds much more like my kinda guy. Thanks for the rec!

I have to say I much preferred "Dreaming of You" and Derek. Although I liked "Then Came You", I adore Derek, and prefer him to Alex

Derek is my #2 hero. I love Alex, but he disappointed me when he called Lily a whore. Other than that, he is a sweet guy. I like Derek more because he achieved so much, coming from the 'gutter.' Alex was born into privilege and he really didn't have the struggles that Derek faced, so of course he could afford to be more open and nice.

I'm rereading "Dreaming of You" I'm falling in love with Derek all over again. The fact that Sara thought she could go back to Mama's boy,prudish Perry after being with Derek, is hilarious. No comparison.

I agree, Naomi.

Ah Derek! Always in my dreams ... :)

I just read Derek's book recently and he was so awesome. I love how brooding he was :) And he fell for such a non-typical woman. It was spectacular.

Jess, welcome to the club. ;)

Indeed!

Agree with all of the above. It makes a nice change that the hero is a well spoken gentleman...I have only one issue though - the name Derek. Not to detract from the awesome alpha maleness that is Derek Craven...is it me, but isnt the name Derek like calling a regency hero Kevin, or Keith or Neil or Nigel...it just isnt macho enough. It's just one of those names (sorry people, dont mean to offend anyone whose partner is of the same name) that I associate with mildly damp personalities...phew, just had to get that off my chest. Oh knows, perhaps if I read Dreaming of You enough times it will redefine Derek's for me!

Sorry, the above entry should read "NOT a well spoken gentleman"....

hahahaha Grace, got your point. Personally, I haven't recovered from him yet so if his name was even Nigel or Neil, wouldn't have mattered! ;p I actually have a special fondness for the name 'Derek' because it, most obviously, reminds me of him. Hope you'll come to love it too after re-reading the book. :)

I actually love the name Derek. Always have.

Lady Danielle "The Book Huntress" wrote: "I actually love the name Derek. Always have."

I think, though, that he was named as a secondary character in Then Came You before LK realised that he had potential as a lead. My fave name for a hero is actually Alex.

Funny isnt it, how you can like and dislike names and what you associate with them. I've only just found out from Punya that Derek Craven appears in another book (hot footing my way over to Then Came You)but I bet Lady Danielle has put her finger on it.
(I have an aversion to the Patrick....when at primary school I walked home with a snotty nosed boy called Patrick who then decided to urinate in the grass in front of me...for some reason I always associate 'Patrick' with little boy willies....LOL.)

Lolzzzz Grace, funny story. :p

In one of the novella books where LK has a short story ( I think) , Derek Craven's daughter marries Dr. Lindley. Cute story. She is very smart!
Suzanne in GA

Suzanne wrote: "In one of the novella books where LK has a short story ( I think) , Derek Craven's daughter marries Dr. Lindley. Cute story. She is very smart!
Suzanne in GA"

Yes- I have that one somewhere. Very funny scene in the wine cellar I think and Derek gets a brief scene with Sara.