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	• Shared Dream Jayne Ann Krentz Mira, 2001 - 352 pages average customer review:based on 13 reviews view larger image
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OK, so this doesn't sound like the best way to start a romance but really, it works out. However, you must keep something in the back of your mind: this book first came out in the 80's, and the character's behavior is time sensitive. She, Diana, is burnout due to sexual discrimination. While today's Diana would have successfully sued, those of us old enough to remember the 80's know at that time she would have lost. He, Colby, an author of horror stories has a firm aversion to marriage and in-laws, but with a strong commitment to his now grown son. The are both in the middle of nowhere for the summer. She to re-group and he to finish his next book (there is no mention of a laptop once, I told you: time sensitive).

To make this simple: Diana and Colby have the same dreams or past life memories. To end this and fulfil the legend of "Chained Lady Falls" a baby must be both conceived and born in cave behind the falls. As soon as I got to the legend, I was filled with dread: I just knew this was going to be hokey as death. I was dreading the next page. But, she did it, honestly! I recommend reading this book just to see how Ms. Krentz pulled it off. I was so sure it would be a sappy ending-but is was good! It is a love story, so they are, of course, happy ever after, but the story makes sense and is logical! The fact that the romance and sex are really good helps too, but for me that fact she got away with ending the story without huge jumps into silly is worth the price of the book alone.

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Best JAK (under any of her names)

I'll start out by saying that I like Jayne Ann Krentz, but I am NOT a big fan of her earlier books (esp. those written as Stephanie James). A Shared Dream was initially published in two parts in 1988, but it definitely doesn't fit the pattern of other works of that period. In fact, A Shared Dream may be the best book JAK has written to date under any name, and I absolutely loved it.

Diana Prentice is a thirty-four year old accountant. She has a meticulous nature, is intelligent, and is very good at her job. She is therefore surprised and disappointed when she's passed over for promotion at the firm of Carruthers and Yale. She takes time off and retreats to a rental cottage in tiny, quiet Fulbrook Corners while she thinks about her future.

Her temporary neighbor is horror writer Colby Savagar, who is staying at his late Aunt Jesse's cottage. In his youth, Colby was the local wild boy who was inexpertly raised by the eccentric Jesse. The young Colby attracted the attention of the local "princess," Cynthia Fulbrook, who saw him as an interesting counterpoint to her privileged, but confining, life. When Cynthia became pregnant, she and Colby got married against the wishes of her parents. Soon, tho, the strain was too much for Cynthia and, leaving her newborn, Brandon, with Colby, she headed back to Fulbrook Corners. Unfortunately, she was killed in an accident on the return trip. After a stint in the army and working construction, Colby eventually became a successful writer. He's not particularly happy to be back in Fulbrook Corners now and Margaret Fulbrook, who blames Colby for the loss of her daughter, makes sure he knows just how unwelcome he is.

Colby has incentive to stay in Fulbrook Corners, tho. He wants Diana Prentice. Initially, the last thing on the reserved Diana's mind is romance, but they soon become involved in a torrid affair. An incautious interlude results in pregnancy, and Colby insists they marry to raise the child in a stable environment. The culminating event of many romances is the big bedroom scene or the wedding. Since both are dealt with pretty early in the book, a good deal of time is devoted to showing how two mature adults deal with unexpectedly sharing their lives, and how Diana deals with her decidedly ambivalent feelings about childbirth and motherhood.

There were a number of subplots in the book that were well done and moved the story forward. I was especially impressed by the portrayal of a grownup Brandon and his relationships with Colby, his girlfriend, his irascible grandmother, and even Diana. Colby did such a good job of raising Brandon that you know he'll be a good father to Diana's baby. (Look for a humorous scene involving Brandon's wedding gift to his father.)

The shared dream of the title refers to a recurring dream that Colby has had for years about the Chained Lady Falls in Fulbrook Corners. Local legend told of an ancient warrior who chained his woman in the cave behind the falls until she would bear him a child. Instead, the chained woman mortally wounded the warrior, which also resulted in her own death alone in the cave. Her spirit was doomed to remain bound there until events foretold in the legend would set her free. Diana begins to have similar dreams as Colby, which then become increasingly intense for both as the delivery date nears. To be honest, I wasn't initially sure where this dream thread was going, or if it would become irritating, but it was handled well. There was yet another subplot involving threats to Diana that mirrored scenes from Colby's writing that eventually resulted in the resolution of the chained lady legend.

Of all the things I liked about this book, I have to say that the portrayal of Specter, Diana's dog, ranks right up there at the top. Specter is intelligent, loyal, brave, and hilarious. Throughout the book, he is protective of Diana and engages in a sometimes not so subtle contest of wills with Colby to determine who will be "top dog." It's a funny twist on the typical "alpha males" in romance novels.

There was just so much going on in this book and it was all expertly handled by JAK. The characters were almost (almost) universally complex and true to life. There were a lot of plot lines which were convincingly woven together, and the pacing was excellent. This book had it all--great story, characters you can care about, real-life (but not boring) issues, sex/sensuality, and humor. I was amazed when I first read this book a couple of weeks ago. I've already read it a second time, and will surely read it many more times. Maybe this book wasn't everyone's cup of tea (based on some of the other reviews), but it really hit the spot for me!

(Note: Another reviewer mentioned the typos that are rife throughout this book. My rating didn't reflect this since it's more a fault of the editor/publisher than the author; however, it was annoying and often distracted from the flow of the book. Very sloppy, indeed.)

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Enjoyable

This is a 1988 book that orginally came out as 'Dreams Part I' & 'Dreams Part II'. It was an ok read. Spectors personality & coflict of interest with Colby was fun through out the book.
The situations with teenagers I could totally relate to (having 3 raised & 1 to go!). Colby really screwed up in Ch 10 & I think Diana should have held out a little longer to get his attention to his very one-sided attitude. For being the "amazon business woman" that she was suppose to be, she sure let up on the fact that he was still blaming her for something she didn't set up.
The father-son chat at the wedding was really a crack-up! Brandon definitely got some points in there! I loved that.
However, the book goes over & over & over the same problems - mainly about Diana's personality hang ups. The book was overly long due to this. I found myself skimming thru a lot of it about 2/3 of the way through, wishing they would just get on with it. The story itself was pretty ok, it was just too drawn out.

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reviews: page 1, 2, 3



The warrior died at her feet, his blood running out of the cave entrance and mingling with the waterfall. With his last breath he cursed the woman -- told her that her spirit would remain chained in the cave forever until a child was created and born there . . .

So goes the ancient legend of the Chained Lady and the curse that bound her throughout the ages -- until destiny brings Diana Prentice and Colby Savagar together. Suddenly, they are both haunted by dreams that link past and present, while their waking hours are filled with danger. But it is only when Colby, Diana's modern-day warrior, learns to love can these dark forces be vanquished. Only then can Diana set the Chained Lady free . . .

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