Books On Sale

Books on Sale: Four Historical Romances from Stephanie Laurens

Book Devil's Bride - Stephanie Laurens

RECOMMENDED. I have read this book probably close to 100 times. I can quote some scenes from memory.There are two excellent things I love most. One, as Jane at DA has pointed out, the hero does the pursuing, and the heroine, Honoria, does the resisting. Two, Honoria is a bit of an iconoclast, but part of her strength is in managing a home, because she knows how — it's not easy, either. Some of my favorite scenes are Honoria managing things – and people. Which is probably why she's the first Cynster bride. Devils' Bride is the first book in the Cynster series, and is $1.99 digitally.

When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromising position with plucky governess Honoria Wetherby, he astonishes the entire town by offering his hand in marriage. No one dreamed this scandalous rake would ever take a bride. And as society mamas swooned at the loss of England′s most eligible bachelor, Devil′s infamous Cynster cousins began to place wagers on the wedding date.

But Honoria wasn′t about to bend society′s demands and marry a man “just” because they′d been found together virtually unchaperoned. No, she craved adventure, and while solving the murder of a young Cynster cousin fit the bill for a while, she decided that once the crime was solved she′d go off to see the world. But the scalding heat of her unsated desire for Devil soon had Honoria craving a very different sort of excitement. Could her passion for Devil cause her to embrace the enchanting peril of a lifelong adventure of the heart?

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Book The Ideal Bride - Stephanie Laurens

This is the 11th book in the Cynster series, and the hero is Honoria's brother, Michael Anstruther-Weatherby. The Ideal Bride is .99c.

Michael Anstruther-Wetherby is a rising member of Parliament—a man destined for power. Aristocratic, elegant, and effortlessly charming, he is just arrogant enough to capture the interest of the ladies of the ton. And with his connections to the wealthy and influential Cynster family—his sister is married to Devil Cynster, the Duke of St. Ives—his future appears assured. Except that Michael lacks the single most important element of success: a wife.

Political pressure sends him searching for his ideal bride, a gently bred, malleable young lady, preferably one with a political background. Michael discovers such a paragon but finds a formidable obstacle in his path—the young lady's beautiful, strong-minded aunt—Caroline Sutcliffe. One of London's foremost diplomatic hostesses, Caro has style and status but, having lived through an unhappy political marriage, wants nothing of the sort for her niece, who has already lost her heart to another.

So Caro and the younger woman hatch a plot—Caro will demonstrate why an inexperienced young lady is not the bride for Michael. She succeeds in convincing him that what he really needs is a lady of experience by his side. And the perfect candidate is right under his nose—Caro herself. Then it is Michael's turn to be persuasive, a task that requires every ounce of his seductive charm as he tempts and tantalizes Caro, seeking to convince her that becoming his bride will bring her all her heart desires . . . and more.

But then a series of mysterious, and dangerous, accidents befall Caro—an assailant has stepped in with their own idea for Caro's future—one that could involve murder. Before Caro can become Michael's ideal bride, they must race to uncover the unknown's identity before all hope of what they long for, and wish for, is destroyed.

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Book The Perfect Lover - Stephanie Laurens

This is book #10 in the Cynster series – which is eighteen or twenty books long, I think. I don't recommend you mainline the Cynsters, as you'll get Cynsterweary, but at .99c, buy now, save for later, enjoy any time.

Never let it be said that a Cynster male can't face up to the one unassailable truth: A successful marriage gives life its fullest meaning. To all of English society, Simon Frederick Cynster has a perfect life—one of enormous wealth and impeccable social status. His lean handsomeness turns the heads of naïve debutantes, while his sensual allure ensures he never lacks for more sophisticated partners for a night, or more, of pleasure. Yet despite all of this, Simon knows that there is something—or rather someone—missing in his life. To achieve true contentment, Simon must find a lady accomplished enough to be his wife, someone who will spend her days as a member of one of England's most influential families … and her nights pursuing duties of a more private—and personal—nature.

But Simon knows what to expect if he reveals his intention to choose a bride; nothing could be more tiresome than having every blushing miss on the marriage mart thrust upon him. So he discreetly begins his search at a house party at Glossup Hall . . . and is astonished that the lady who immediately captures his interest is Portia Ashford. Simon has never considered Portia as a potential wife. He's known the raven-haired beauty since childhood; she's willfully independent and has always claimed to be uninterested in marriage. But an unexpectedly heated kiss abruptly alters the rules of their decade-long interaction. Soon they begin to long for the moments they can spend in each other's arms.

But all is not as it seems at Glossup Hall. As Simon and Portia begin to explore the depths of their mutual passion, a shocking murder is committed … and it appears that the next victim will be Portia herself. And even more shocking than the fact that a murderer secretly walks among them is the realization that all of Simon's considerable strength and influence may not be enough to protect Portia—his once and always perfect lover . . .

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Book Temptation and Surrender - Stephanie Laurens This is book #15 in the Cynster series, and features Lucifer Cynster's brother in law, Jonas. It's also .99c. 

Jonas Tallent, who has masterfully taken the reins of his family's estate, never expected a delectable morsel like Miss Emily Beauregard to step into his library, but he certainly isn't about to hire her as manager for the village inn. A lady as tempting as Emily belongs in a ballroom, or a bedroom—preferably his.

Emily herself hadn't expected her current circumstances, but she has her reasons and doesn't plan to share them, even with someone as seductive as Jonas. Yet he can be so devilishly persuasive. But a villain knows her secret, and soon danger threatens Em, her family, and the powerful love she and Jonas have found in each other's arms.

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General Bitching...

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  1. Laura says:

    How many Cynster novels are there?  I stopped after 8 or so. 

    But I do love Devil’s Bride…and my paper copy is looking ragged…

  2. Kim (Mom on the Run) says:

    I’ve been listening to your podcasts (this time we went ATL-SFO and back) so of course I got sucked into buying these.

    BTW, we had a lot more fun on this trip than on our drive from ATL to Ole Miss. We got an aisle seat and ordered cocktails on the plane. I’ll let you know where we’re going next…you know since we’re BFF’s now and all (10 hrs. of listening to somebody on podcasts will do that to you).

  3. laj says:

    My first Laurens book was Scandal’s Bride which had sex scenes that went on forever.  It cracked me up.  I’m not a Laurens fan generally, but I love Devil’s Bride, he’s so fucking arrogant and Honoria is so obstinant!  A very good romance.

  4. chantalhab says:

    I bought Devil’s Bride (with bonus materials!) last time you mentioned it was on sale and I loved it. I think I got up to book 7 or so before I had to stop. I definitely got Cynsterweary. I never made it all the way through the 4th one. I gave up after the first few chapters and many, many eyerolls.

  5. jliedl says:

    Good news – “The Devil’s Bride” is on sale at the same price at Amazon.ca. Wish I could say the same about the others. . . .

  6. I very vaguely recall that one of the first proper romances I picked up was a Cynster novel. I didn’t like it. I actually made a note to never check out another one of Laurens’s books again. Nevertheless, I have never been disappointed by any book Sarah has recommended, so I will cave to the pressure and buy Devil’s Bride. If I hate it, it’s on you, Sarah!

  7. Sandra says:

    They’re ALL Cynster novels, even the ones that aren’t. Devil and a couple of his cousins show up in the Bastion Club books. I finally gave up on her with the first Black Cobra book. I slogged through the purple prose and endless sex scenes. But then all the Cynster relations and multitudinous hangers-on, AND all the Bastion Clubbers showed up. Enough was enough. DNF’d it and never looked back.

  8. LaineyT says:

    I’ve been reading the Cynster series novels via my public library…just wondering if anyone else gets bored with each plot revolving around a hero that refusing to admit to his heroine that he loves her?

  9. GhengisMom says:

    Yes, and the peril. Always the peril! But, I’m a sucker and I do like the books, so I spread them out like Sarah was saying. I haven’t read one in about a year, so I figure I’m due.

    I have this same problem with several authors. I love the books, but they are so similar that I have to spread them out so I can appreciate them. Susanna Kearsley comes to mind.

  10. Kate K. F. says:

    Just bought Devil’s Bride and realized this is the second rec and deal I’ve picked up with Devil in the title. I enjoyed Devil’s Delilah a lot and this one sounds like a great read. I really need time to catch up with my to-read pile as my book club book is falling behind.

  11. AB says:

    I hate to admit that I have read all of these books. *hangs head in shame*

  12. Shawny Jean says:

    Hah. Cynsterweary. When you’re done with the workouts, you should write a romance lover’s glossary. I get Cynsterweary pretty quickly, or rather, Laurensweary pretty quickly, since I’ve also read most of the Bastion Club and all of the Black Cobra books as well. I can only do a couple in a row before I have go find a Navy SEAL or a vampire to break up the purple prose. But they’re good fun, and if you can find the audiobooks with Simon Prebble narrating, that just amps the cheese factor up to 11.

  13. Beccah W. says:

    I think the first two Cynster books I read were about the blonde female twins, Amanda and…Amelia? Anyways, they definitely made me laugh at the ridiculous/outrageous circumstances the girls got themselves into. But they were good, and after them I went on the read a good portion of the rest (though there are sooo many I eventually got bored and moved on).

  14. Diane Sallans says:

    Loved this series – read the first ones many years ago & everytime I see comments about it I want to re-read it.

  15. Vicki says:

    I was late back to work and it is the fault of the Bitchery. I picked up Devil’s Bride and started reading while munching my salad….

  16. GhengisMom says:

    We’re sorry?
    (nevermind. We’re not!)
    enjoy!

  17. LaineyT says:

    “Always the peril!” LOL.  So true.

    It would seem that I too have been a bit of a sucker since, despite any eye-rolling moments, I keep on reading.  I think it’s the strong female characters that have kept me invested.

    You were probably right to approach the series in small doses.  That probably would have decreased the likelihood of author-fatigue setting in.  And on a positive note, now that I’ve made it through the “Bar Cynster” stories I’m finding a bit more variety in the main characters’ personalities in the subsequent books, even if the heros continue to all be dead set against admitting their feeling to anyone but themselves.

    PS…have you read any of the Julia Quinn Bridgerton Family series?  These books are a shorter in length and have a bit more humour compared to Stephanie Laurens’ book…oh and almost no peril! 😉  The series follows 8 siblings and all have very distinct personalities and follow different paths to their HEA’s. 

  18. GhengisMom says:

    *sigh* God bless the Bridgertons. Several of those books are my go to comfort reads. And I absolutely love their family! I have 7 children myself and the idea of my kids having adult relationships with each other the way the Bridgertons do, is my own personal, unrealistic fantasy.

  19. LaineyT says:

    Seven children…you are a “GhengisMom” indeed!  If it helps set your mind at ease, my Mom is 1 of 10 siblings and she and her sibs all get along pretty well. 😀

    I’m just coming to the end of the Bridgerton series (after reading the rest of JQ’s books) and crossing my fingers that I’ll be able to find another author I enjoy as much.  Her stories have such a great mix of romance, flawed but likable characters, and humour.  Wish me luck!

  20. Cat says:

    The Perfect Lover is the one I own. It was incredibly cheap at a library book sale. The plot and characterization aren’t particularly great but she does build tension nicely with all the “intimate” scenes. Will check out Devil’s Bride. Laurens has a weird way of writing alpha males.

  21. Cat says:

    Picked up Devil’s Bride from the library on your recommendation. Not really enjoying it all that much. I feel like it’s a situation where she refines the point she’s trying to make (as she makes the same point over and over) in later books. Devil and Honoria are just kind of awful. There are just too many jarring elements and red flags that don’t register as “signs of a healthy relationship” and their extreme to the point that they’re almost verging on caricature. Also the book is just far too long for this very simple plot and the mystery is a throwaway element.

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