Rating: 
Summary: Must have for your collection, but nothing new
Review: Ever wonder how authors can possibly turn out hit novels quickly enough to keep up with their readers? Well I've often found myself haunting the bookstores waiting for the next Laurens' book to come out. Unfortunately, on this one, I wish Laurens had taken a little more time between coming out with Amanda's story in One a Wild Night and Amelia's story in this book. While much of the wit in dialogue, passion and romance still appear in this book, you are left wondering what happened to all the rich detail.One of the most wonderful features of a Laurens' novel is the way the main characters come to life against the background of the supporting characters. Here a few of the names of the Cynster clan are tossed about, and the Ashford family members are mentioned, but you don't really "see" these people. Perhaps the only supporting character to have a true role in the story is the hero's mother. But even then, Laurens tells you the Luc feels compelled to keep his mother apprised of his plans, she immediately senses his budding love for Amelia, and yet you know nothing more about her, her relationship with Luc, etc. Another disappointment was the brief glimpse at Devil and Honoria, the two main characters that set off the Cynster series. It was touching to see their relationship still evolving, but handled rather unfulfillingly. I wouldn't have missed this novel since I'm an avid fan of the series, but for those picking up a Laurens novel for the first time, please go back a read some of her earlier works. They are true delights, this is only a hint of what can be.
Rating: 
Summary: By far the worst of the Bar Cynster series.
Review: This book was painful - truly painful. I had such high hopes for Luc. He was so sharp-tongued and devilishly arrogant in "On a Wild Night." I expected him to lash that tongue out at everyone, but he proved to be quite a bore. The whole premise of the book is ridiculous. He has known Amelia for 20 years, but all-of-a-sudden decides he lusts after her and has secretly loved her all along?! That's a little hard to swallow. I love conflict between the hero and heroine in romance novels. I think the fighting and sexual tension is great. There was barely any conflict at all. The only time Amelia got mad at Luc was when she found out he was rich (oh, what a reason to get mad-NOT). For two people who were supposedly passionate and outspoken, these two never had any conflicts. Boring. The whole subplot of Fiona was pointless. Just more words and no meaning. Speaking of words, could S.L. get any wordier? My God, woman, just say what you want to say and spare us the 10 page long descriptions of a kiss! I must say, the sex sizzled a little more in this one than in most S.L. novels. But they just kept doing it! And it was such flowery prose that I skipped most of it. In fact, I probably skipped 1/4 of the book because it was just too darn boring. I may have to give up on S.L. I really liked "Devil's Bride," but have been continually disappointed since. I really cannot recommend this one either.
Rating: 
Summary: Doesn't she have an editor?
Review: Ms. Lauren's story is 'alright' a little contrived but it could have been fun, had she not decided to have her main characters have sex every 6 pages...after a while, it's just boring and insulting to the reader who is actually looking for a story. In this case, her 'theif' was also very easy to figure out, and secondary characters drawn very shallowly. But most importantly, this woman needs an editor to teach her how to begin paragraphs and sentences with more than, 'Thought she would die...' 'Felt herself falling...' This isn't even good English! My second Laurens book, and my last.
Rating:
Summary: A Disappointing Dawn
Review: In the typical romance novel, boy meets girl, boy and girl gradually fall in love, and then some misunderstanding or quirk of fate keeps them apart until, as the novel draws to a close, they declare their love for each other, marry, and live happily ever after. In her latest novel, "On a Wicked Dawn," Stephanie Laurens turns this typical formula upside down. In the first chapter, her wealthy heroine, Amelia Cynster, proposes marriage to a supposedly impoverished Lucien Ashford and he accepts. Amelia has idolized Lucien from childhood, but, fearing he does not return her affection, she offers him a marriage of convenience in exchange for her large dowry. What she does not know is that Lucien has just made a fortune from some successful investments, and he is not about to tell her of his new-found wealth until the last chapter. Stephanie Laurens deserves credit for trying something original with the plot of this book, but, sadly, the result is anticlimatic. Once the hero and heroine agree to marry in Chapter One, it is downhill from there and the author spends the next 400 pages or so stretching out Lucien's realization that he returns Amelia's love, as well as his decision to reveal that he did not marry her for her fortune after all. Along the way, there are a number of very frank sexual interludes as Lucien gradually seduces Amelia, but, candidly, even these begin to grow a little tiresome and repetitive after awhile. The most irksome aspect of the physical intimacy between Amelia and Lucien is that these two people (supposedly deeply in love) never speak a word of tenderness, affection or endearment to each other (e.g., darling or sweetheart), even during their most private moments. As a result, the sex scenes come off more like displays of sexual gymnastics than true lovemaking. If you are a devoted Laurens fan, you will probably want to read this book "just because she wrote it." If not, then I would recommend that you avoid disappointment and read one of her other, excellent installments in the Cynster family romantic chronicles instead.
Rating: 
Summary: Really Wicked Fun!
Review: After a night of celebrating Lucien Asford is finally free. His family has been in finacial straights for years and now a deal has come in and he is wealthy again. As he is coming home Amelia Cynster is waiting for him she tells him she knows that he needs money and she knows it's time to get married and if he marries her he'll get her trust and she'll have some freedom. After some thought Lucien realizes that Amelia is the kind of wife he wants for reasons he can't explain. Four years of searching through the ton Amelia Knows for sure who she wants Luicien Asford. She's always known he was the one she wants to share her life with now she's found the perfect way to get him. She wants a marriage that has it all Love, and respect and she won't settle for less! A battle of the wills insues. There relationship has it all plenty of sexuality and the slow easy slide into love. With a bit of mystery and plenty of Cynsters it'a great book to read and reread! I can't wait for Simons story Stephanie Laurens is at the top of her game!
Rating:
Summary: Weak Plot with Emotionally Shallow Characters
Review: Amelia Cynster, along with her twin sister Amanda, have been searching London ballrooms for six years looking for their perfect match. Each is bored with the uninteresting prospects, and both have decided to take matters into their own hands. After seeing her sister triumphantly wed to the man of her choosing, Amelia sets out to do the same. Her choice is Lucien "Luc" Ashford, Viscount Calverton, whom she has always loved. Now she's going to do something about it. So one night she anxiously lies in wait for him to return home so she can set her plan in motion. Amelia boldly proposes to him, under the guise of how much her dowry will assist his family with their financial problems. Luc agrees, then passes out at her feet. He actually already loves Amelia, but won't tell her because he feels it would give her too much power over him. Amelia also won't divulge her love for him. Will these two ever trust each other enough to confess their true feelings? That is basically the whole book in a nutshell. It started out pretty good with her proposing to him, which I thought showed some originality. Well, that's the extent of the originality found here. He won't just quickly marry her, but wants to court her first. The whole plot becomes, who will seduce whom first. At first this is okay, but after so many of these scenes, plus when they start getting horizontal (which doesn't take long), the story then becomes a stream of love scenes without much of anything else to offer. I ceased to care about the characters after awhile. There was no depth of emotion, and no indication of anything between them besides lust. Of course, Luc is the rake who is the master of seduction, and she's blonde, curvaceous, outgoing, and perfect in every way, including a voracious sexual appetite. YAWN! There is nothing unique or special here. This was my third book to read by this author, and probably my last. I cannot recommend this.
Rating:
Summary: How can an author write so well without
Review: much of a plot? I enjoyed the male Cynster books, even though they were skimpy on plot as well. This had very little to entice the reader. Amelia proposed to Lucien. He accepted... The End-right? No, this was the beginning. The only thing left was the seduction, the seduction, the seduction...on both sides.
Rating: 
Summary: the promise in a kiss
Review: I just want to said that i enjoyed the whole series of the bar cynister series. I can't wait to read simon story. I hope the series continues.
Rating:
Summary: Where's the "old" Stephanie?
Review: Stephanie Laurens is usually one of those authors that I buy without even reading the back of the book!!! I have to say that I am terribly disappointed with the last few books she has written!!! I keep buying them thinking that she is just going through a "funk" but, I'm sorry to say, I feel that she has "lost it"!!! I bought this one (On A Wicked Dawn) and, of course its "twin", (On A Wild Night), and all I kept thinking about was: "When were they going to stop having sex and tell a story"? Now, I am definitely NOT a prude! I like a great sex scene the same as the next gal, but, I also need a great story to go with it!! I never felt like there was any plot. I never felt like they were in love. I found I didn't even care what happened to them!!! I did finish both books, and usually I'm sad when I finish a book, but I was just kind of glad when they were over. I also felt this way about "The Secret Lover"!! I bought a brand new hardcover (BIG BUCKS) and couldn't wait to get home to read it! What a let-down!!! Needless to say, I am hesitant to buy the new Bastion series!! I guess I'll be reading the backs of the books -- and the reviews -- from now on!!! Sorry, Stephanie!!! I'll keep hoping for the future!!
Rating:
Summary: Bad Characters and Bad Story
Review: On A Wicked Dawn certainly has the most frequent and elaborate sex scenes that can be crammed into a novel of this length (421 pages). If a reader simply wants to read about sex between a man and woman who love each other but won't admit that love, then this is the book. Unfortunately, if a reader is looking for realistic characters and a compelling story, On A Wicked Dawn will not supply them. Amelia Cynster is the perfect woman-loving, devoted, loyal, active, generous, beautiful and blessed with a huge sexual appetite for the only man she's ever wanted to marry: Lucien 'Luc' Ashford, Viscount Calverton, a handsome, devoted, loyal and infinitely passionate family man who-surprise-is not good at expressing his emotions (Aren't we getting sick already of this emotionally blocked male stereotype? Especially when the character is not brought alive in other ways?) Luc is used to being in control, and he's thrown for a loop when Amelia, out of the blue, suggests that they marry, though he desires the match as much as she does. What follow is 200 pages of his slowly initiating her into sex then rushing into marrying her when he can no longer resist his fierce desire to possess her completely. The next 200 pages detail their deepening sexual relationship after they marry. But it is hard to care about this couple-or their ongoing fears about declaring their love to one another (they supposedly marry because she wants him to have her dowry to keep his family afloat, and she can't find anyone else she wants to marry)-when they are so stereotypical and never think, say or do anything to make them unique or even interesting individuals. Luc's series of realizations-which are embarrassingly repetitive-fail to reveal anything other than that he loves Amelia and is afraid of the power this gives her over him. In addition, details of sexual events and their accompanying emotions are often described as if occurring for the first time in their relationship, whereas the same 'revelations' are actually repeated again and again as if they were new in subsequent scenes. Hence the reader feels lied to by the author. The sex is so overblown that it becomes corny rather than truly sensual. The sex would have been more effective if we could have seen more passionate and caring happenings between Luc and Amelia outside the bedroom. They think about their love for each other, but we rarely see it in action aside from them expressing their lust. So they come off more as sex machines than as real people. The bland, unsurprising subplot concerning a thief among them fails to raise interest. I could have put the book down at any moment and not missed reading the rest. I never feel this way when characters are interesting-even when the story, like this one, is predictable and uneventful.
| 
