The Dream

The Dream is the first book in the Crosslyn Rise trilogy by American author, Barbara Delinsky. Crosslyn Rise is in trouble: run down and in need of repair. Jessica Crosslyn doesn't have the money to do it (her father squandered the family's fortune) but she can't bear to sell. Her radical plan is for a sensitive development of the grounds with cluster condominiums, to draw in investors. Her bank manager and close friend, Gordon Hale, recommends Carter Malloy to do the design. Despite his urging, Jessica is reluctant: the only memories she has of Malloy are unpleasant. But when they meet, he's nothing like she remembers. A romance that develops excruciatingly slowly, with a predictable outcome. The main character is over-sensitive and over thinks everything. The male lead probably saves this from being a poor read. This is early Delinsky, and it shows. Her later novels are much better.