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Summary: The legendary Cynsters, continued
Review: A RAKE'S VOW picks up where DEVIL'S BRIDE left off. After attending the dedication of a chapel roof Honoria Cynster strong-armed the single Cynster cousins into funding, Spencer "Vane" Cynster flees the realm of matchmaking mamas and marriage-minded debutantes, only to be done in by a storm. The erratic weather forces him to break his journey at his godmother Minnie's estate, and the first sight that greets his eyes upon his arrival is the too-fetching form of Patience Debbington, Minnie's niece, bent over a flower bed. Vane is the last person Patience wants to see - not that they've met before, but she knows the type. Her father was a consummate rake, leaving her mother languishing in the country while he conquered town and ignored his family. Patience is alarmed when she learns Vane has decided to stay; she does not need someone as tempting as him in her life, and she certainly doesn't want him corruptly influencing her impressionable younger brother, Gerrard. Vane has agreed to stay and track down the mysterious "magpie" thief that has been plaguing the household, taking bric-a-brac which appears to have only sentimental value. On top of the thief, there also appears to be a specter haunting the ruins of the abbey on which the estate was built. The house's mismatched occupants - guests Minnie shelters to keep her from being lonely - appear to be united in their choice for a suspect: Gerrard. Vane and Patience join forces to clear Gerrard's name, and on the way, they succumb to their strong mutual attraction. There's only one problem: Vane is metaphorically driving for the nearest church and Patience is running as far and as fast as she can in the other direction! Can Vane convince Patience of his sincere belief in love and family without having to grovel or humble himself? Will Patience learn to believe in love as a strength rather than a weakness? Given the Cynster history, readers know there will be a happily-ever-after, but only when both parties learn to give a little, guaranteeing that the way to true love is an interesting (and sometimes steamy) read. Patience's doubts and fears of marriage without love are made vivid and real, and Vane, being the wonderful and sensitive man that he is, does a very complete job of convincing Patience to see the truth of his feelings for her. Patience, in turn, is just the right heroine to teach Vane that humbling himself to admit his love is not a bad thing when the rewards are so plentiful. Laurens has nailed the chemistry between these two very likable characters. The suspense is still a little lacking, although the mystery is a great deal less transparent than the one presented in DEVIL'S BRIDE - but keep in mind, this is not a mystery novel. A RAKE'S VOW is a great relationship story, and any fan of the Cynsters or Regency romances will appreciate it. Personally, I just may be hooked on Cynsters for life!
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Summary: Vane deserved better!
Review: After reading Devil's Bride I couldn't wait for Vane's story to be published. I'm sorry to say I was very disappointed. Vane, who we met in Devil's Bride, would simply not succumb to marriage as easily as was portrayed in this book. The author had him put up no fight at all. In fact, it seemed to be one chapter after another of Vane agonizing over how he would convince Patience to marry him. Stephanie, what were you thinking? Vane deserved better! Please don't let Scandal down.
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Summary: This romance author has the talent to be a superstar
Review: By 1819, Spencer Vane Cynster knows which direction his heart blows when it comes for him to give away his love: nowhere. Vane has vowed to never love or marry anyone because he prefers to be the recipient of pleasurable indulgences from all the aristocratic ladies of the Ton. Patience Debbingham has no use for her male peers and she trusts none of this worthless lot. Since her parents are both dead, the independent Patience is used to doing what she wants even as she raises her teenage brother. They meet when he seeks shelter from a nasty storm in her aunt's home. When her sibling becomes the prime suspect of recent criminal activities, the pair works together to ferret out the real identity of the outlaw. However, both soon realize that the calamitous weather that brought them together moved indoors, with them being in the eye of a passionate storm. Readers will swear that the second "Cynster" Regency romance, A RAKE,S VOW, is one of the sub-genre's top novels of the year. The story line is whimsical yet filled with intrigue and romance. The lead protagonists are a delightfully daring duo, who challenge much of propriety as they find love with one another. After reading this novel and its predecessor, THE DEVIL'S BRIDE, fans will be clamoring for more stories to quickly fall from the Bar Cynster family tree. Harriet Klausner
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Summary: Another satisfyling Bar Cynster novel.
Review: Even though this is the second book in the series, I read it last and found it just as satisfying as all the others. Nobody is doing Regency romances better today than Stephanie Laurens. The plot of this book focused almost exclusively on the relationship between the two leads. There was some sort of mystery plot surrounding the whole thing, but frankly I couldn't keep the cast of characters straight and didn't find it very interesting. Not that it mattered. The core relationship was more than enough to keep me entertained. Unlike some of Laurens novels, the heroine in this book is a very level-headed, smart young woman. As always, the Cynster lead was devastatingly sexy. If we can't clone them in real life, at least Laurens has given us the next best thing - Cynster after Cynster.
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Summary: Not as good as Devil's Bride
Review: Except for her hard-to-understand aversion to men like Vane, Patience is a good if slightly odinary heroine. We eventually understand her reasoning, but it takes time to sympathize. Vane is one of those characters you really want to like, a lot, but Laurens never gives him his due. To me, Vane is never as clearly realized as the rest of the Cynsters. I, however, found it refreshing (having read this series out of order) to have the hero almost immediately realize that this was the woman he wanted to marry and she's the one who needs convincing. The mystery plot was not particularly good; honestly, why could no one figure out the sand any earlier? Geez. But Laurens writes well, and this book is enjoyable, although certainly not the best of the series. I think Vane has been cheated; it's almost as though the author never really understood him. His handling of Patience's brother Gerrard was one of the most insightful elements. Read it as part of the series, but it's hardly the best. Devil's and Scandal's stories are much better.
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Summary: Not as good as Devil's Bride
Review: Except for her hard-to-understand aversion to men like Vane, Patience is a good if slightly ordinary heroine. We eventually understand her reasoning, but it takes time to sympathize. Vane is one of those characters you really want to like, a lot, but Laurens never gives him his due. To me, Vane is never as clearly realized as the rest of the Cynsters. I, however, found it refreshing (having read this series out of order) to have the hero almost immediately realize that this was the woman he wanted to marry and she's the one who needs convincing. The mystery plot was not particularly good; honestly, why could no one figure out the sand any earlier? Geez. But Laurens writes well, and this book is enjoyable, although certainly not the best of the series. I think Vane has been cheated; it's almost as though the author never really understood him. His handling of Patience's brother Gerrard was one of the most insightful elements. Read it as part of the series, but it's hardly the best. Devil's and Scandal's stories are much better.
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Summary: 2nd in the Bar Cynster series
Review: First off these books should be read in order. The 1st book is DEVIL'S BRIDE, which is Devil's story. Devil is the cousin to the hero of this book, Vane. Vane and Devil are extremely close almost like brothers. After Devil has found himself a bride its now Vane's turn. Now Vane has decided no to marry. He is a Rake and has no plans to surrender his bachlorhood. That is until he meets Patience. Now patience has no desire to marry. She is "on The Shelf" and is quite content to groom her young brother, Gerrard, to becoming a great man. She and her brother are residing at the home of her Aunt Lady Bellamy. Vane has taken refuge at Bellamy Hall to wait out a storm and soon finds himself involved with a mystery. Someone has been stealing little baubles from Lady Bellamy's houseguests and everyone has pointed the finger at Patience's brother. Now Vane and Patience must prove Gerrard is innocent. This is an exciting fast paced story. You get to meet Devil and several others of the Bar Cynster as well. Its filled with very passionate love scenes and quick humor. I highly recommend it and the whole series.
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Summary: Vane is definitely that...
Review: Good love story, with a fairly different mystery running through the story.Another of those Cynsters who refuses to marry and a young woman who feels the same. Gerard is Patience's sweet, teenage, younger brother and she is trying to be everything to him, and keep him from being exposed to rakes and the bad life. He is more interested in his art, anyway. It was a fairly good story with lots of characters to keep track of. I like the family tree she has in each book, to remind just who is who and from whom. I also love the back cover and would love to know who did the illustration. Whoever it is, this type of work is found also on some Barnett and Brockway books as the art work and models look so similar.
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Summary: Too Patient
Review: I agree with the reader who said to read this book for Vane. The character of Patience was a little hard to believe. She dragged her feet over too many pages! The writing itself was charismatic, interesting and just plain great, but Patience took too long to make up her mind. Vane, on the other hand, was just as a hero should be. Stephanie Laurens' first book, Devil's Bride, blew me away. I'm glad she revisited her original characters in this one....
Rating:
Summary: Not so bad
Review: I am new to these books, but I have to say Stephanie Laurin's, writing is so beautiful. Even with this book being slow, I just love how she writes. It is like your right in the book with the characters. Her sex scenes are never dirty and astound you. And she is truly romantic. This book starts and stops, starts and stops. It is not the kind of book you cannot put down, but it is the kind of book you keep picking up, just because you get addicted to it and have to read it all.
I liked devils story better, this one is to much the same, and for a second book in a series, I thought it was to soon to have a repeat of the first. However, I will not give up on this author. She is very gifted.
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