Rating:  Summary: Pleasant but Average Read. Review: As mentioned by other readers, this book very closely follows the storyline of the movie, Sabrina. Because I knew this prior to reading the book, it didn't really bother me, but since there's such actual little derivation from the basic storyline and no new spin to it, the book is somewhat flat and predicable. I also found the characters a little unreal. The hero, Garrick's Throckmorton, is the distinguished head of the very wealthy and respected Throckmorton family. He is also a brilliant businessman and English spymaster, but the context for this is not demonstrated in the book. He's actually more of a blustering and blundering type of hero. Celeste, the gardener's daughter, the heroine who melt's Garrick's cold heart, on the other hand is a little too perfectly adorable. She speaks three languages, instructs her female rival on the arts of feminine wiles, and has all the men falling at her feet with one glimpse of her dimpled smile. And she's also better than Garrick at espionage to boot. As to the other couple, Ellery and Hyacinth, their personal transformations and mutual love is to pat and fast to be believable. A light and pleasant if somewhat predictable romantic fantasy that is not one of Christina Dodd's better books - she's capable of more.
Rating:  Summary: There's nothing new under the sun--get over it! Review: Christina Dodd is one of the best romance writers we have currently. IN MY WILDEST DREAMS is a well written, intelligent, satisfying romance novel.That said, I'm a little surprised at the lack of sophistication by some of the negative comments posted here about the book. Re-telling old stories has been done since the dawn of storytelling (or just after, come to think of it). Shakespeare lifted most of his plots from other sources. I think it shows an author's love of a story by wanting to re-tell it. Its like a dialogue between the centuries--what BROTHER WHERE ART THOU does for THE ODYSSEY. Its not plagiarism! IN MY WILDEST DREAMS doesn't purport to have invented the Sabrina story--only to retell it in a new way. I think Christina Dodd has done a very good job with it. I enjoyed it very much.
Rating:  Summary: This Book (...) Review: I purchased this book as an escape for my mind, and it has done nothing but irritate me!!! The characters are boring, there is no chemistry between Garrick and Celeste. The plot is slow and equally dry. I wish Judith McNaught would write a new historical romance and show some of these writers what its all about!!
Rating:  Summary: Just go see the movie Review: While I am a great fan of the movie Sabrina, I assume writers will come up with their plot lines. I was greatly disappointed to pick up what I thought was a new story to discover that it instead was Sabrina with a few cosmetic changes.
Rating:  Summary: My first Christina Dodd book Review: but not my last. There are few surprizes left in the Romance genre and this is no exception. However, it was enjoyable and had several laugh-out-loud moments/scenes that make it worthwhile. I look forward to reading the rest of Ms. Dodds books.
Rating:  Summary: I know it's a "homage" to Sabrina but... Review: I didn't know from the book's cover jacket that this is the author's homage to Sabrina but it takes less than five pages to grasp the concept. However, because it mirrored "Sabrina" so closely I found it very difficult to separate these characters (in my mind) from the modern day movie characters. The process became so disruptive to just enjoying the flow of the book that I finally just gave up and tossed the book aside. I'm so disappointed because I always enjoy Ms. Dodd's books. Hopefully the next book will be an original work which is what I, as the reader, expect.
Rating:  Summary: Read it in one day!!!Great Stuff!! Review: I read quite bit, and I love Dodds work, and this was by far, the best she has ever written! I started the book at 10:00 in the morning and proceeded to read the WHOLE THING by 9:00 p.m.!! I NEVER do that! I recommend this book to anyone that wants to sit down relax and go on a vacation right on there couch! What a way to get away from it all, with this wonderfully written book. Trust me you wanna read this story!
Rating:  Summary: blatant plagarism Review: I have very much enjoyed the previous books in the governess bride series and usually love books by this author. But Sabrina, er...I mean, In My Wildest Dreams was a disappointment. The plot and characters are so identical to the Sabrina movies, comparisons are inescapable. Except for the expected titillating sexual situations and a slight twist on the family business, you may as well be watching the movie on video - literally scene by scene. If you've seen either movie and read the book, you'll know what I mean. I couldn't immerse myself in the story because I kept seeing the movie in my head. Frankly, I'm amazed the publisher and editors allowed this book to be published as is. Copyright infringement?
Rating:  Summary: Same as Sabrina Review: I normally enjoy Ms. Dodd's work, but in reading her newest work I'd have to say that I'm surprised that it was even published. The entire book, including characters and story line, follow the tale of both the old and newer version of the film Sabrina. How could any editor with any sense allow this book to be let out on the shelves when it is as close to plagarism as one can get without copying the tale, word for word. Although I was very disappointed in this work, I love all of Ms. Dodd's previous books, so I will continue to look forward to her next offering and hope for a more imaginative tale.
Rating:  Summary: My new favorite author! Review: I loved this! It was like the Sabrina movie with Harrison Ford and Julia Ormand and I loved that, too. The dialogue is witty, Garrick is so straightlaced he's frighteningly funny, and Celeste is just what he needs, but neither of them know it. Also, I loved how Celeste helped Hyacinth, Ellery's fiancee, become a real heroine in her own right. The scene between those two women was one of the best in book, especially when Celeste tries to explain sex without personal knowledge and a nineteenth century attitude. And when Garrick and Celeste finally succumb to passion -- whew!
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