Rating: 
Summary: My problem is not so much the story itself...
Review: although it is hardly Laurens' best. No, my major problem with this book is Lauren's recent style affectations. For some inexplicable reason, Laurens has decided that fragments are infinitely better than complete sentences, and so she writes in fragments to the extent that it is often difficult to follow her train of thought. Then she tops it off with a multitude of one-sentence paragraphs. Take these examples: "Couldn't turn away.
The connections slowly clarified in her mind.
Tristan, she knew, wouldn't turn her away. Wouldn't refuse her.
With him, she'd be safe." (elementary stuff, that.) OR "She was where she belonged. In his arms. With love between them." (gak!) And those are some that actually make sense. In addition, Laurens has developed the habit of reusing and overusing pet words and phrases. The words and their attendant emotions lose their impact and often become downright silly. Tristan and Leonora are a nice couple, fairly well drawn, especially Leonora, even though I hated that she broke her promise to him. (Yeah, she explains it away as meaning something else, but I didn't buy it.) I'm still not sure how Tristan is different from the rest of the Bastion Club members; they all seemed of a piece in this book. Frankly the setting up of the club is rather boring. The artist's rendering of Tristan is totally yummy, but the story lacked due to the pitfalls of Laurens' adopted style and her penchant for overly-detailed, almost clinical love scenes. This book pushes Laurens, once a favorite, farther down the list of authors to read...she's nowhere near the top now. If you want to read it, borrow it; don't waste your money.
Rating:
Summary: The Lady Chosen
Review: Disappointing and boring. I have read all her other books and enjoyed them all very much, so my reaction to this book was unusual. There was no real feeling of chemistry between the 2 main characters and nothing to attract me to either of them. Very one-dimensional.
Rating: 
Summary: Something's missing
Review: Don't get me wrong, I love all of Stephanie Lauren's books! But there was something about 'The Lady Chosen' that didn't do it for me. I felt like I didn't really know Leonora. In all her other books I could see the characters, picture them as if they were real, but not with 'Chosen'. I also felt it was a little to long. How DID Tristan know about all the little havens for him and Leonora at those balls. He's been away and out of society for a long time. This book would never keep me from buying another Stephanie Lauren's title, I just thought it impersonal and a bit repetitive.
Rating: 
Summary: Great start to a new series...
Review: Don't think about it, just buy this book. Hot, fun and oh so Stephanie Lauren's spicy. The author is again at the top of her game. The elements of the book remind me of "Devil's Bride"...and hey, Cynster's pop up every now and then. What's not to love.
Rating:
Summary: THE LADY CHOSEN-Tristan and Leonora-SPOILERS
Review: Favorite scene with Leonora-
Going into danger when she wasn't supposed to, then bringing the enemy back to her house to get the truth.
Favorite scene with Tristan-
Confronted by Leonora about the reason he has to marry.
Together-
Going after the enemy at the park in disguise.
What did you like about Leonora-
Her strength and courage, even in the face of danger.
What didn't you like about Leonora-
Her same strength and courage making her unthinking. She can put herself, and the others, in danger by stupidly going where she's not supposed to go. Not wanting to marry. OK with just having sex. Angry with Tristan because of his reason for having to marry.
What did you like about Tristan-
Very intelligent. Able to solve anything. His love for Leonora and his aunts (though he pretends not to want to be near them.)
What didn't you like about Tristan-
Only that he thought of his aunts at first as a duty and a burden.
If I had to cast Leonora, I'd cast Kate Winslet.
If I had to cast Tristan, I'd cast Julian McMahon.
Rating:
Summary: STEPHANIE'S NEW SERIES IS OFF TO A GREAT START!
Review: Frankly, I'm mystified by some of the less-than-enthusiastic reviews this book has gotten. THE LADY CHOSEN ranks right up there with SCANDAL'S BRIDE, my favorite in the Cynster series. Tristan was a very likeable hero and Leonora was the perfect foil for him. Best of all, there was give-and-take on both sides as they came to the inevitable realization that they were meant for each other. The supporting characters were well-drawn and aided the plot, as they are supposed to do. Well done, Stephanie!
Rating:
Summary: Love SL's writing but didnt L O V E this book
Review: I am an avid reader of everything Stephanie Laurens writes, and was so hooked when I read "The Promise in a Kiss" that I went and bought all the books she had written thus far. The way her characters interact and get into interesting "tangles" always keeps me up until the early morning reading. I waited anxiously after reading the last of the cynster series for the start of this Bastion Club series, but after reading this first book I felt that I could have waited a while. It was a great read once it got started, but I put it down several times before I finally decided to just finish it. I'm still anxious to see what the rest of the series holds, but I can't say this is the BEST that Mrs. Laurens has.
Rating:
Summary: Oh Dear
Review: I am Stephanie Lauren's biggest fan, have devoured everything she has written so far, she is without doubt the most sensual of romantic writers.
It hurts me to have to say how disappointed I was with this novel. Instead of a steady build up of sexual tension as is her wont, the characters in this novel were devoid of any charm or sensuality. I didn't feel in the least bit interested in either of the main characters, I found their relationship unrealistic and boring and the story wound around their relationship just as boring. The excuse given for the lady not wanting to get married (to a rich, handsome, fascinating earl) was just pathetic. I usually finish her novels in one sitting: this one I put down so often, I debated returning to it but eventually finished it only out of respect for SL.
The formula was so predictable, the language likewise. It was as if someone else - Ms Lauren's editor or assistant - wrote the book in the style of her other books but completely missed out on what makes SL so exciting. No tension, no sensuality, no steamy sex, predictable and so boring. Truly a waste of time.
Oh Stephanie, please inject your old magic in future books. I'll try the next one, of course, but if that is of a similar vein, I'm giving up.
Rating:
Summary: Refreshing new series for Lauren
Review: I had only read a few books written by Stephanie Laurens prior to reading The Lady Chosen. All of those books had been a part of the Cynster series and, I must admit, they seemed to get stale after a while. Devil's Bride, the first of the Cynster series, was a really fun book. But in my mind, none of the other books I sampled from this very long series ever reached the quality of Devil's Bride. I am happy to say that The Lady Chosen seems to have a new freshness and certainly likable characters. Published just within the last month, the first sequel to it is now available, A Gentleman's Honor. I like that I will be able to read the sequel to The Lady Chosen so soon. Tristan Wemyss, Earl of Trentham, is a soldier/spy come home from the war to an unexpected large inheritance. Along with the inheritance comes the responsibility of supporting fourteen older female aunts and cousins. The inheritance comes with one provision. In order to receive it in it's entirety, he must marry within one year. Tristan never anticipated marriage much less being forced into it. He decides he will not allow society's matrons to foist a bride upon him. He will chose one of his own ' hopefully as close to the end of that year as possible. Tristan is one totally cool romance hero. Not only is he the dashing, handsome hero we expect, but also has a strong streak of domination and possessiveness that he can barely control when he finds himself strongly attracted to a very stubborn spinster who has no interest in marriage. Leonora Carling is a twenty six year old beautiful woman entirely satisfied with her life as a single woman living with her dear uncle and brother. She savors her independent lifestyle. After a series of disturbing events at their home, Leonora meets Tristan Wemyss when she ventures next door to investigate their new neighbors. Unknown to her, Tristan has been observing her walking in her gardens for days. There is instant attraction for both parties but neither is willing to admit such. Once Tristan perceives some unknown party threatens Leonora's safety, they form a wary and somewhat awkward partnership seeking to uncover the identity of the persistent criminal. Tristan and Leonora are immediately attracted to one another and fight the attraction, as we have come to expect. Tristan sees Leonora as a contrary, stubborn spinster who would not be worth the trouble of marrying. She is clearly too independent and very set in her ways. I must admit that his rather negative first impression of Leonora was my impression of her throughout the book. She has more than one TSTL (too stupid to live) moment and is definitely set on being single. Tristan is the first to recognize his feelings are more than lust but Leonora only wants the adventure ' not a relationship. Her character is one of two reasons I gave this book only a four star rating. True to Laurens's style the sensual scenes are well done and rate a solid 4.0 out of 5.0 (see More About Me for rating guidelines). The second reason I gave The Lady Chosen a four star rating was the mystery portion of the book. Page after page, throughout the book, we find the characters going over and over the clues either in discussion or in their thoughts. I thought the mystery portion was beat to death and wasted a lot of pages. It was not that intriguing of a mystery to demand so much time. Of course, I will admit that I always want the romance to be first and foremost. This mystery was so lengthy that it ran a close tie to the romance in the number of pages it covered and the romance was just so much more interesting. I actually found myself skimming through some of the mystery pages because it would be a repeat of what I had already read or it would be proceeding down the exact path I expected it to go. The Lady Chosen is an entertaining book that I highly recommend. Tristan's subdued yet sexy character was such that a lot of ladies will savor reading his story. Yes, the heroine could have been a lot less hardheaded and still have been strong and, also, I'm just not much for mixing heavy mystery in to a great romance. So this could easily be a five star book for you if neither of those particulars bothers you. I eagerly await this entire series.
Rating:
Summary: Just A Little Too Long....And Not Enough Chemistry!
Review: I like most of my fellow reviewers must admit that although Ms. Laurens is a author that pick up simply because her name is on the cover I must also admit that if I had read the previous reviews I might not have jumped right out and gotten the book. The story was just a little too long (I'd say at least 100 pages too long) and took too long for the story to develop. I was excited about the fact that Tony from "Captain Jack's women" was going to finally get his story within this series and since I so enjoyed the Cynster series I eagerly looked forward to this one. The chemistry between Tristan and Leonora just was not there and I also wondered what the attraction was for either one of them. Both characters seemed one dimensional. Tristan had so much potential and so I was sad that he just didn't come alive for me like her other characters. I admit that the reason I kept turning the pages was I was waiting for the story to pick up and the sparks to fly between the two main characters. I also kept reading because Ms. Laurens took the time to write the story I figuered the least I could do was read it. If you are new to Ms. Laurens don't let this review or others about this book scare you off. She is a very talented author and well worth reading. This is just not one of her better stories.
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