Helpful Score: 6
Appealing characters and red-hot chemistry breathe new life into a familiar story line in the latest entry in Laurens's Regency-era Cynster series (following All About Love). This time, Cupid's arrow fells Gyles Rawlings, the Earl of Chillingworth and an "honorary Cynster." Gyles realizes that it's time to take a wife and carry on the line, but he's determined to go about it in a businesslike fashion with an arranged marriage. Fortunately, country heiress Francesca Rawlings, a distant relation, seems to be the perfect candidate. She's well favored, pleasant and endowed with an estate that will nicely complement his own. On his wedding day, however, he discovers that the serene, docile woman that he spied in the garden a few days earlier was not Francesca, but her cousin Frannie. The heiress he's contracted for is the passionate hoyden he's met galloping across the downs. Nevertheless, he goes through with the marriage, seizing the opportunity to complete his estate and indulge his passion for the spirited Francesca. She, in turn, is determined to make the earl admit his love for her. The stubbornness of the hero and heroine, though the center of the story's conflict, may irritate some readers, but Laurens's twist on the bride-switch, arranged marriage formula is fun, spicy and sure to please.
I really enjoyed the other books in this series and loved Chillingworth's role in them. But this book in which he is the star character fell very flat to me. He seemed to have lost all of the sparkle he had in the first books when he became the hero.
Helpful Score: 4
He wants to marry a malleable, proper bride. He thinks he is doing that. But a case of mistaken identity is confounded at the altar when he lifts the veil and discovers that his bride is beautiful, assertive, and passionate. Intimate love scenes, great dialogue. Very real hero and heroine. Wonderful Regency in the indomitable Laurens style.
Helpful Score: 2
Excellent series....Hurrah...Chillingworth's story
Helpful Score: 2
A very romantic novel about a wild gypsy and a Duke.
Helpful Score: 2
I love her books. They are one of my top romance choices.
Helpful Score: 1
Stephanie Laurens does it again! I loved this book!!
Helpful Score: 1
Loved this story!!!!
Helpful Score: 1
This is the first novel without the actual Bar Cynster and I was not quite sure how I would like it, but it was great! The plot line is different from the others and the circumstances and misconceptions that these characters experience are unique. I loved it and definitely recommend that people keep reading the Cynster series past the original six cousins!
Helpful Score: 1
excellent, her usual stuff
Helpful Score: 1
just loved it.
Helpful Score: 1
Couldn't put the book down!
Really loved the heroine. She is great! Hero was okay, seemed to lack something
Good, but as in most romance novels, problems seem artificially created when the two lovers would just communicate clearly with each other. Sometimes I tire of the all the brooding and unspoken thoughts.
I think this must be my favorite of all the Cynster books so far, except for the first one (about Devil and Honoria).
Stephanie Laurens is always a good read.
Stephanie gets better with each book love this series.
Love reading anything that Stephanie Laurens writes.
Passion!
Fate has made Gyles Rawlings a man determined to control his destiny. He has decided to wed a well-bred lady who will dutifully bear him sons, yet turn a blind eye while he takes his pleasure elsewhere. By all good accounts, Francesca will fit his bill. As for the "elsewhere," he's recently encountered a beautiful, brazen siren who will make a fine mistress, one with a fiery nature to match his own. But at the altar, Gyles discovers his bride is the bold enchantress who has inspired his deepest fantasies. Finding passion and love in the same woman has long been a secret fear. But as his world is rocked on its axis, Gyles becomes obsessed with possessing the one thing he'd thought he would never want...his wife's heart.
Fate has made Gyles Rawlings, Earl of Chillingworth, a man determined to control his destiny. He has decided to wed a well-bred lady who will dutifully bear him sons, yet turn a blind eye while he takes his pleasure elsewhere. By all good accounts, Francesca will fit his bill. As for the "elsewhere," he's recently encountered a beautiful, brazen siren who will make a fine mistress, one with a fiery nature to match his own.
But at the altar, Gyles discovers his bride is the bold enchantress who has inspired his deepest fantasies. Finding passion and love in the same woman has long been a secret fear. But as his world is rocked on its axis, Gyles becomes obsessed with possessing the one thing he'd thought he would never want... his wife's heart.
Gyles may not be a Cynster, but he sure acts like one. Excellent story...a real keeper.
But at the altar, Gyles discovers his bride is the bold enchantress who has inspired his deepest fantasies. Finding passion and love in the same woman has long been a secret fear. But as his world is rocked on its axis, Gyles becomes obsessed with possessing the one thing he'd thought he would never want... his wife's heart.
Gyles may not be a Cynster, but he sure acts like one. Excellent story...a real keeper.
Fate has made Gyles Rawlings a ma determined to control his destiny. He has decided to wed a well-bred lady who will dutifully bear him sons, yet turn a blind eye while he takes his pleasure elsewhere...
Fate has made Gyles Rawlings a man determined to control his destiny. He has decided to wed a well bred lady who will dutifully bear him sons, yet turn a blind ey while he takes his pleasure elsewhere. Francesca will fit his bill. As for the elsewehre, he recently encountered a beautiful brazen siren who will make a fine mistress. But at the altar, he discovers his bride is the bold enchantress who has inspired his deepest fantasies. This is one of the Cynster series
From Back Cover: Fate has made Gyles Rawlings a man determined to be in control of his destiny. He has decided to wed a well-bred lady who will dutifully bear him sons, yet turn a blind eye while he takes his pleasure elsewhere. By all good accounts, Francesca will fit his bill. As for the "elsewhere", he's recently encountered a beautiful, brazen siren who will make a fine mistress, one with a fiery nature to match his own. But at the altar, Gyles discovers his bride is the bold enchantress who has inspired his deepest fantasies. Finding passion and love in the same woman has long been a secret fear. But as his world is rocked on its axis, Gyles becomes obsessed with possessing the one thing he thought he would never want: his wife's heart.
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