Rating: 
Summary: A Sensational Prequel !!
Review: This book was well worth the wait! The first page grabs hold of you and the book doesn't let go until the last!
Although a prequel to the Bar Cynster series, this book stands beautifully alone. The two main characters, Helena and Sabastien, are fleshed out very well from hints and descriptions in previous Cynster books, yet it also hold many surprises.
Helena meets her future husband on the Convent grounds, in her night wear, while returning from nursing her ill sister. Sabastien literally falls at her feet. As a reward for misleading his pursurers, he kisses her, inadvertantly leaving them both with a promise for the future. Years later they meet again. The rest as they say...is fate.
Especially satisfying here was that the hero doesn't try to escape his fate. He accepts it gracefully. In keeping with his character grace and charm. The herione on the other hand...is sweetly naive, and hilariously direct. The byplay between the two is wonderful!
After a twisted, unusual courtship they travel to outwit a common enemy, have an unwelcome duel, and end with the delivery of an heirlom and a letter.
One of the things that Ms. Laurens does best is to tie up all the loose ends. This story is no different. The epilougue here bridges the gap between the years to the next installment of the family and will leave you with a satisfied smile.
I throughly enjoyed this story, and will look eagerly forward to the next in the series. Thank you, Ms. Laurens, for a great read! Please send the next one soon!!
Rating: 
Summary: Great Book!
Review: I have read all of Stephanie Laurens books and this one is by far the best yet. If I could I would give it a 10. She makes her characters come alive as your reading the book.I would definately recommend this to others.
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Summary: A great hisorical romance
Review: In 1776 Paris, Helena de Stansion plans to flee to England to avoid an arranged marriage by her guardian, Comte Fabian de Vichisse. However, duty calls and she tends to her ailing sister. In the garden, she spots an intruder, who unbeknownst to her steals a dagger from her guardian. Surprisingly she helps him escape, but not before he kisses her.
Fabian uses Helena as a pawn to gain his desires. He agrees to allow her to go to England to marry a duke as long as the noble is wealthier than she is, which limits the field to almost no one. At a London soiree, Helena recognizes Sebastian Cynster whose kiss from that day in the garden still excites her. Sebastian also knows that Helena is the woman he never forgot. Helena tells Sebastian that she seeks a husband and asks him to help her find a spouse. Sebastian knows he loves Helena, but he is not sure how to propose to his beloved. Then there is her guardian holding her sister hostage to insure Helena remains pliable.
Stephanie Laurens has written six Cynster tales including a NY Times bestseller. Her latest tale, THE PROMISE IN A KISS, is a prequel to the other novels and may be the best of the lot. Besides containing an exciting story line that shows the "roots" of the Cynster dynasty, the plot has a delightful hero and an intrepid heroine who make this into a fabulous late eighteenth century romance. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: Laurens at her best!
Review: Stephanie Laurens has based her Bar Cynster novels on the premise that even a man who doesn't particularly want to get married will be happily resigned to his fate once he meets his soul mate (even if she isn't resigned at all!). That premise has served her better in some of the Cynster series than others. It's a comforting premise, that we all have a soul mate out there, but adhering to that plot occasionally causes Laurens to churn out somewhat identical stories. The best of the Cynster series retain enough of this "soul mate" premise to be comforting, but also manage to be original and fresh. Thankfully, "The Promise in a Kiss" now joins "A Secret Love" and "Devil's Bride" on my list of "Best of Cynster." Sebastian is pure Cynster, and as Cynster fans all know, even the most boring of Cynster men are pretty ideal. Helena is a wonderful match for him, strong-willed and feisty. In addition, we are given good justification, both for Helena's strong-willed nature and for her resistance to Sebastian's protectiveness. The misunderstandings between them have good basis, and the resolution of those misunderstandings is reasonable and understandable. My only (small) quibble is that, because the "villain" is off-screen (so to say) most of the book, his villainous nature doesn't exactly loom over the book. This is a welcome addition to the Cynster series -- Laurens at her best. Enjoy!
Rating:
Summary: Total, head-spinning romance
Review: I wish I could write like Stephanie Laurens. She has written another wonderful book about the Cynsters. The Duke and Helena are perfect. Perfect characters and perfect together. The only sad thing is the first book in the series, "The Devil's Bride" came about after the Duke had already died. I know they were happy together but it's still sad that they are separated by death. It would be nice if after Ms. Laurens is through with all the books, including Simon's, she would write about the first Cynsters. Her books talk about them being from a long line of warriors who married strong, capable women, that knowing where it all started would be quite a book.
Rating: 
Summary: Not 4, Not 5, but 4-1/2 Stars
Review: Laurens has spun a good tale of the meeting and romance of Sebastian and Helena, the parents of Sylvester (Devil's Bride; in addition, she set up the plotting behind that of her first Cynster novel). We also get to meet the other older characters from the Cynster novels as young/youngner men and women. Sebastian is another strong Cynster male who meets his strong Cynster-to-be female. He knows Helena is the one woman for him while Helena believes she wants to marry a non-controlling man. Helena's strong, controlling relative is her guardian and he is has an old grudge against Sebastian. The mix is quite enjoyable. I would not go so far as to give it "5 stars" but it was a good 4-1/2. On reading it the second time, perhaps I will go higher. Perhaps I was expecting a longer novel (on the lines of her latest ones). But "The Promise in a Kiss" is definitely a keeper for my bookshelves.
Rating: 
Summary: Should have been called, "A Hollow Promise"
Review: I feel like I've been violated. Ms. Lauren's has ignored a very basic tenet of romance writing. Readers are supposed to believe at the end of the romance that "love has conquered all" and that these two people have found a "once in a lifetime love." Isn't that why we buy a romance? But we know from Ms. Lauren's future books that the Duke cheats on Helena. First of all, given what we know of Helena's character, do we really think she would stand for this? Secondly, why did I just spend three hours reading a book about two people overcoming their conflict to live happily every after when Ms. Laurens has already told us that they don't. She tries to explain away the Duke's philandering by making us feel sorry for Scandal's mother. I don't buy it--would you from your husband? I don't object to the premise that there can't be love after cheating, but I do object to these two people overcoming such a tremendous violation of their love. The characterizations of the Duke and Helena in this prequel do not fit their future actions in the series. As a stand alone, without the name Cynster attached, this book would have been fine. I loved the rest of the series (except for Scandal's Bride). I gave this book 2 stars only because of Ms. Lauren's obvious talent.
Rating:
Summary: AMAZING
Review: This book was amazing. For all of you who are as fascinated with Regency Romance, and the era immediately preceeding, as well as the Bar Cynster this is the book for you!
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Summary: Sebastion would NEVER be unloyal to Helena
Review: My title says it all, the Sebastion I know from this book would NEVER consider being disloyal to Helena, even if he can't stand a damsel in distress, because Helena should be on TOP of his list of priorities, and hence he would never willingly do anything to hurt her! He's suppose to protect her, he said so!! I mean, i can understand if perhaps he was drunk or something, but NO he was entirely sober! Knowing this totally ruins my ideal image of him. And i agree with other reviewers, it is sad to know that despite their great love for each other, they would ultimately not have a happy ending. So dear readers, if possible, treat it as if this book (which was actually written exceptionally well, unlike her later novels where the female doens't want to marry, the male suddenly decides to want her and eventually they have sex and she refuses to marry him and after a lot of sex scenes and the usual mystery is solved, realises she loves him and marries him) is NOT linked to the cynster series and that he was never disloyal to Helena and they live happily ever after. Now THAT would make it a 5 star book, but alas we cannot erase from our minds something so entrenched after 6 cynster novels.
Rating:
Summary: Enchanting (but disappointing in one aspect)
Review: This is the enchanting story of the pair who gave birth to the Cynster dynasty - Helena and Sebastian.
For years, Helena has lived a sheltered life in a French convent school. Then one unforgettable night, Sebastian Cynster, Duke of St. Ives, falls at her feet after being mesmerized by her beauty. Helena in return, just stared back at him, taking in his good looks. Neither asked for each other's names, but shared a magical kiss that held every promise of a wonderful future.
Seven years later, they cross paths again, this time in London, and both recognize each other and remember that special kiss. Helena is told that Sebastian is dangerous and therefore decides to stay away from him. Yet unbeknown to her, Sebastian, despite previously declaring to remain a bachelor, has recently decided to marry and had set his eyes on her.
Of course, Sebastian is a true Cynster - arrogant, commanding, and so darn sexy. Helena is strong-willed, proud and a perfect match for him. In fact, they remind me of none other than Devil and Honoria. The sparring, battle of wills and sensual games they play are captivating. And the sexual tension is great.
There are some dramatic elements thrown in as well. The blackmail and threats made against Helena by her conniving guardian leads to a swashbuckling climax. Another thing I enjoyed about this book is the appearance of other Cynster family and connections like Sebastian's only sister, Augusta, his brothers, Lady Osbaldestone and we read a little bit about Almira, Charles' mother.
However, as much as I enjoyed this novel, I cannot give it 5 stars for the mere fact that I have already read the other Cynster books, and therefore find it rather difficult to accept how Sebastian could have cheated on Helena. Sebastian loved Helena so much - in fact, more than his own life - that I kept asking myself HOW and WHY? As a stand alone book, I wouldn't have hesitated to give this 5 stars, but as it is, Laurens' didn't give us an acceptable reason as to Sebastian's infidelity, except for a brief mention in Devil's Bride that he felt sorry for Richard's mother. Why couldn't she have written instead that Sebastian was drugged? This is my only gripe in this novel that his whole infidelity wasn't fleshed out or even mentioned.
As romantic and enchanting as this novel is, I have to deduct 1 star, but overall, this is a good book.
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