Davis Bunn tell a great story. A little different from his usual style, but fascinating and worth the read. To think that a dream could predict the future is interesting, but at the same time a little scary. A well written, fast paced story that keep's the reader's attention to the end.

Suppose key figures around the world had the exact same dream at the same time–or I should say nightmare?–an ominous vision of global financial crisis. Dr. Elena Burroughs, whom we met in The Book of Dreams, returns in its sequel, Hidden in Dreams. Both of these compelling novels relate powerful stories that stand alone, but I recommend reading them in order.

Once again, readers are catapulted into shattering events played out upon an international stage, although this book is set mainly in Florida during hurricane season (suggestive of the turmoil brewing without and within). Elena, a psychologist and university instructor, becomes entangled in the web of dreams, transposed from an objective observer to unwilling recipient. Her faith and her search for the truth will not allow her to remain silent about either the possible divine element or the warning these night visions convey.

The conflict and sense of doom comes through like pressure building before a tornado, making one want to race the storm until it ends. Throw in a demanding editor bugging Elena for another best-selling book, experimental drugs for ADHD that may allow sinister use, a too-handsome nemesis who switches to colleague and longs for more, her deceased best friend's skeptical sister who demands Elena's aid, and the widowed college president who comes to her assistance amid a developing relationship, and you have more than enough conflict for any Bunn book.

It looms on the horizon, black and sinister, churning through the atmosphere and masking all that it touches in shadows of doom and deadly uncertainty. Circling the land like a beast stalking its prey, the hurricane surges closer and closer to the Florida coast, threatening to level everything in its wake. For Dr. Elena Burroughs, the almost sadistic storm system is but a single raindrop in her bucket of worries. A much larger storm is brewing, far more power-hungry ... and far more deadly.

"It all came down to the dreams. And her own next step. The prospect of what awaited her was wrenching."

As we re-enter Elena's life in this sequel to Book of Dreams, she is steadily attempting to piece her shattered world back to a semblance of normalcy. After a fizzled romance, shelved friendships, a tanked career, along with the loss of her home and nearly all her possessions, the world's leading authority on dream analysis has only one remaining option — the dreaded spotlight. With no job and virtually no one to turn to except her ever-persistent editor, Elena reluctantly agrees to a worldwide publicity tour ... one that leaves her drained and emotionally raw, not to mention humiliated by a demeaning and obnoxious scientific colleague.

A glimmer of hope shines through the wreckage when Elena is offered a professorship at a Melbourne college campus. But no sooner has she filtered back through the cracks and slipped momentarily underneath the fame radar than a peculiar bit of her past creeps into her new life.

Elena is dreaming again.

But she's not the only one experiencing the prophetic dreams ... more than a dozen people from around the world with no prior connection to each other are now assaulted by the same dreams. Worst of all, these vivid nightmares are beginning to come true.

Forced once again to serve as reluctant leader of an unlikely group, Elena feels less prepared than ever before. How can she, with a faith gone dry, find the strength and guidance to lead such a group? Especially when that group's most compelling urge is to warn the world of the encroaching disaster.

"... right now, all I can tell you is, God has never felt more silent."

The clock is ticking and Elena must seek out the truth harder than ever before if she is to discover why she and the other "dreamers" have been granted the ability to see the future. And more importantly, what they can do to prevent the coming storm from destroying them all.

Personally, I didn't enjoy this book quite as immensely as its predecessor, but that's not to say that Hidden in Dreams isn't amazing in its own right. Still packed with peppy dialogue and timeless Biblical truth (not to mention a few startling plot twists that'll have your brain doing an about-face), this novel oozes quality and talent.

I'm giving Hidden in Dreams a very unsubtle five stars as well as two thumbs up to Davis Bunn!

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books, a division of Simon & Schuster. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.

I enjoyed this book very much. The topic is timely and should capture your attention right away, the characters were easy to relate to and understand, and the story moved along quickly. Bunn does a great job of using simple language (not simplistic, but not ornate) to transport readers into the story world, and he sustains interest until the last page. The spiritual elements aren't just inserted here and there, but are woven naturally throughout the book. In fact, the book would not be complete without the faith of the characters. This might be off-putting to a nonChristian, but Hidden in Dreams is written primarily for the Christian audience. If you are enjoy contemporary Christian novels, especially those with a little mystery and inspired by our current economic environment, you'll love this book.

~Jocelyn Green, author of Wedded to War

Hidden Dreams is a sequel to the book, "The Book of Dreams." It is totally unlike any other novel I have read, and although it's a sequel, it's a very enjoyable stand-alone novel as well. As usual with Davis Bunn, this story is full of action, adventure and drama with a good dose of romance thrown in. This drama could have been taken right out of the daily newspaper. The twists and turns kept me turning page after page, hoping to find out what was going to happen! I found it riveting!

Even though this can be a stand-alone book, you will definitely want to read book 1 in the series, just because it's so good. It was as hard to put down as this one. I'm very happy to recommend "Hidden in Dreams."

I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from Howard Books. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255.