Rating: 
Summary: Very disappointing
Review: I read this book on the heels of Wild Night. I only got about a third of the way through before giving up. I've read all the other Cynster books and love them, but this book was just plain boring. Buyer beware with this one.
Rating: 
Summary: Wonderful read
Review: Just companion to the previous companion novel on her twin. I couldn't put it down!
Rating:
Summary: SENSUAL, EMOTIONAL, DELIGHTFUL
Review: Haven't given a Cynster book a five-star rating since SCANDAL'S BRIDE, my all-time favorite in this series, but OAWD gets one. Luc was just perfect as the beleaguered refuses-to-admit-he's-in-love-because-he's-not-certain-she-loves-him hero and Amelia is perfect as the determined-to-get-him-to-admit-he-loves-her-because-she-loves-him heroine. Truthfully, Amelia is the most likeable Cynster heroine ever. She sets her course and stays with it until the end. Luc and Amelia love each other right from the very beginning. The fun comes because neither knows the other's true feelings while we, the readers, do. Luc, like Richard, is masculine, protective, sensitive, caring and loving, and, oh, did i mention insatiable and inventive. Thanks, Stephanie, for a wonderful book.
Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: This one is about the other twin in the Cynster series. Her name begins with an A. Yes, I am being sarcastic. The plot and characters are boring. So is the sex. There is suppossed to be a plot, not just sex -anywhere, anytime, anyhow. About the only nice thing I can say about this book is it is not as bad as On A Wicked Night. That's because the lead characters are boring, not hateful.
Rating: 
Summary: All action, no talk
Review: The story alludes to "backhistory" between characters, but we never really get to know what draws these two together. There is a lot of physical/sexual contact but very little emotional connection that is written about. They say "I love him" or "I love her" to themselves, but (yawn) ok, why? the other disappointing thing is "The Big Problem" seems to be each avoiding telling "I love you." I've gotten used to some quirky insecurity in each that they work together to overcome, or there's danger, or something...this novel just felt like there was a too-tight deadline and the characters suffered for it. Read used, or not at all.
Rating:
Summary: On a Wicked Dawn
Review: I buy every book that Stephanie Laurens writes. Generally, I laugh, I sigh, I enjoy every word. I usually cannot put the book down until I have finished reading it. This book does not measure up. The plot is pretty much nonexistent and the bedroom scenes are overdone. After the first 100 pages, I set the book down and have no intention of resuming my reading.
Rating: 
Summary: Like night and day...
Review: Yet again, I find that I love a story for the reasons others dislike it...but then, that's what reviews are for- to give another point of view.This is the story of Amelia and Luc, two people who have known and loved each other for YEARS, but- for different reasons (He, being in dire straits with the family finances and trying to restore them. She, for fear of rejection and scarring him away- being the RAKE that he is...AND HOW!!!) never expresses or verbalized it in any way (although it was apparent to EVERYONE around them). I LOVED the friendship angle and that, to me, made the love story and sexual scenes (though VERY long and DETAILED) so powerful and moving. This is also, what I loved about "A Secret Love" and "All About Passion", it showed more than high flying emotions and outrageous deeds...it showed how two friends struggled to see eachother as a man/woman. I feel that Amelia was a refreshing change from her sister (who was at times foolish and too demanding). She was always pegged as the "sensible one" from previous books and this shows throughout the story, but we also see that she has a VERY "wild" (or shall we say accurately "WICKED") side of her own demonstrated very surprisingly in a funny scene showing how she trapped and seduced Luc at a house party (A 1st for him as we could see). Both Amelia's and Amanda's stories were based heavily on their sexual relationships, the only thing that sets them apart where the mysteries involved. Amanda's was a necessary evil that led to happiness- Amelia's was not, it just served as the usual catalyst to make the players confess all. I did find it a change that the Hero KNEW he was in love, but it angered me that he would not admit it and his reasoning was absurd, but then all of the men before him had the same thought pattern- why would he be any different (except Richard, he was READY for it all, but Catriona was not...Luc reminds me of him...love that RICHARD!). To sum it all up- great love story...unnecessary mystery and the dreaded use of the MISUNDERSTANDING (albeit purposely)...but a fun read. You will definently be cheering for Amelia...hey, give a girl credit for being original...she got her man FIRST, then came the emotional tug of war...great planning if I say so myself... *WG* (I am also very anxious to see the possibility of a romance between Portia, Luc's sister, and Simon..."Incestious, indeed.", as Martin would say, but I'm sure we will be loving every minute of it...)
Rating:
Summary: Not Her Best Cynster
Review: I am a big Stephanie Laurens fan but this was not one of her best books. It started off with a bang and I laughed so hard at the beginning, when Amelia proposed to a drunken Lucien Ashford. Then it got really slow and although the sensuality was there, it didn't quite pack the wallop that her other Cynster novels had.
The last portion of the book, when she introduces the rest of the wonderful Cynster family in, is where it again gets interesting.
I really rate this as a 3-1/2 but gave it a 4 because a 3 was not fair.
I was only slightly disapointed, but still a fair read.
Rating: 
Summary: I'm really sorry to have to say this...
Review: OK, OK, I'm going to say something that annoys me when others say it. But this book definitely has a been there/done that/read it aura to it. I know, I know - when you read a Cynster novel you expect certain elements and would be bored and disappointed if they weren't there. But up to now, they've been presented in a fresh and interesting way each time (in my opinion). This one does become a tad tedious, basically lots of frustrated introspection by the two main characters in-between sex scenes. Laurens continues to write the best scenes of passion around, but you sense in this book that she's just sitting there going, "OK, it's time for a bit of passion here, which variation do I put in now?" I do applaud Laurens for attempting a new approach to the basic romance plot - from the get-go, these two know that they are going to get married. I also like Luc as a character very much - since HE'S not the Cynster, he's allowed to be a bit more vulnerable and (gasp) insecure, at least where Amelia is concerned. I didn't exactly not like the character of Amelia, but she really didn't pop off the page the way Cynster heroines usually do, including her sister Amanda. Her character here didn't ring true with what we know of Amelia in previous books. Yes, she's determined and has a will or iron (she is a Cynster, after all) but she was supposed to be the more thoughtful, reticent sister. Yikes. She did everything but put on a black leather bustier and pull out a whip in this book! The subplot (mysterious thefts) was so underdeveloped that it seemed supremely trivial. Laurens has shown in the past that she knows how to use the subplot to move the main plot along, but this one just doesn't ever get in stride. My verdict - well, if you are a Cynster series fan, of course you simply must read this book. On my list, however, it falls at the bottom (even below the Lucifer and Phyllida story). I know that Laurens is planning a tale around the younger cousin Simon (who appears here). We may even be getting a glimpse of his intended female (Luc's strong-willed tomboy baby sister). Perhaps refocusing on a red-blooded Cynster male (in a different time frame) will revitalize the writing. Remember - we love the scenes of passion, but we want a fabulous Stephanie Laurens story to go along with it!
Rating:
Summary: Sizzling!
Review: I have read everything this author has written and looked forward to this book. It was not disappointing. It contained more sensuality than in any of her other books. I enjoyed it very much. She has the perfect style and handles historical romance brilliantly. I loved Lucien and Amelia and enjoy revisiting other Cynster family members. May she write many more.
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