
TEST
Laura Leone’s Fever Dreams is an expanded and updated version of a hard-to-find romance originally published in 1997. It reminds me strongly of some of Sandra Brown’s steamy and adventurous series novels. I don’t mean that in a backhanded way: when Brown is good, she’s very good. And so Leone, and so is this book.
We first meet Madeleine Barrington as she sits in a bar in Montedora City, quietly getting buzzed. A wealthy businesswoman, she came to this impoverished South American nation in order to sell some of her family’s holdings. Her flight home was cancelled and her luggage lost. She has nothing to do but cool her heels and feel depressed about her life, which she does; for in spite of her success and beauty, she is at odds with her family and has no close friends. In this state of depression and mild intoxication, she meets a handsome stranger, also American, who succeeds in charming her into his bed. The night passes in uninhibited hedonistic sensuality, very well-described by Leone. In the morning Madeleine is shocked and deeply embarrassed by her own behavior. She sneaks away and flies back to the States, without ever learning his name, or giving her own.
Time passes, and Madeline is once again obliged by business to return to Montedora. But the political situation in that country is growing worse, and Madeleine’s father hires a bodyguard for her. To her horror and shock, her new bodyguard is her mysterious lover: a former Secret Service agent named Ransom, who clearly remembers Madeleine all too well.
Ransom was crazy about the beautiful woman he met in Montedora, and hurt and infuriated by her hasty departure. When he discovers that his new client, Madeleine, is that woman, he doesn’t hesitate to let her know exactly how angry he is. But he takes the job anyway because, deep down, he’s afraid for Madeleine and wants to keep her safe.
This book does not have the most original plot in the world – there are tons of bodyguard books, and even in 1997 the “oh no, I’m forced into close quarters with the person I had an anonymous one-night-stand with” storyline was a staple. But there’s no danger of this book being hackneyed or clichéd, due to the author’s skill at bringing her characters and setting to life.
Madeleine’s business success has had a price: she exerts complete control over every aspect of her life. Everything, from her appearance to her finances to her schedule, must be perfect. That being the case, it’s no wonder that she panics after her decidedly messy liaison with Ransom. He, on the other hand, is a bit of a maverick. He’s a scarred, charming, and sexy slob whose apparently laid-back demeanor belies his serious dedication to his job. The meeting of these two opposites is scorching.
But there’s a lot more going on between Madeleine and Ransom than just sex. When they return to Montedora, it immediately becomes clear that Madeleine does indeed need a bodyguard. She comes to respect his commitment to duty, and to trust him with her life. He grows to realize that she is extremely vulnerable beneath her professional façade. We see them becoming friends and trusted comrades, as they are threatened with danger upon all sides.
Leone makes the fictitious nation of Montedora an interesting place, giving us a slice of its history and explaining the complex situation that Madeleine and Ransom find themselves in. It seemed like an authentic place to me, and the dangers faced by our protagonists were immediate and plausible. However, towards the last third of the book the action and adventure run away with the plot, subtracting somewhat from the romance and leading to a separation between the hero and heroine. I didn’t mind the separation too much, since the moment when Madeleine and Ransom finally meet again was extremely satisfying.
Fever Dreams is a stirring romance, an exciting adventure and an all-around fun read. It’s a new favorite of mine. Leone is an author who deserves a lot more attention than she’s getting. It’s going on my keeper shelf and I recommend it highly.
Grade: A-
Book Type: Contemporary Romance
Sensuality: Hot
Review Date: 08/05/04
Publication Date: 2004
Recent Comments …
Yep
This sounds delightful! I’m grabbing it, thanks
excellent book: interesting, funny dialogs, deep understanding of each character, interesting secondary characters, and also sexy.
I don’t think anyone expects you to post UK prices – it’s just a shame that such a great sale…
I’m sorry about that. We don’t have any way to post British prices as an American based site.
I have several of her books on my TBR and after reading this am moving them up the pile.