Customer Reviews

Devil's Bride (Cynster Novels)

5 star:		(83)
4 star:		(20)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(12)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

In DEVIL'S BRIDE, we meet Honoria Wetherby, a woman determined to enjoy life to it's fullest without the shackles of marriage. One stormy night she encounters a young man who is dying of a gunshot wound. While trying to help him, she meets the young man's powerful cousin, who she later finds out is Sylvester "Devil" Cynster, Duke of St. Ives. Due to the storm and the circumstances, they end up spending the night in a cottage. Young Tolly Cynster dies during the night never being able to reveal what happened to him. Unfortunately, when Honoria and Devil are found, she is compromised. Devil immediately decided to have her as his duchess. But first he has to convince her into marrying him. This starts off a delightful cat and mouse game. We also meet the other wickedly handsome and rakish Cynster cousins, Vane, Scandal, Gabriel, Demon and Lucifer. The six are called the Bar Cynster . I nearly passed out because this book got soooo HOT! Devil is an absolute dream! Add an unknown murderer on the loose, coincidental "accidents", steamy erotic sex, and a mushy romance and you've got yourself a winner!

You just have to read A RAKE'S VOW, Vane's story, and SCANDAL'S BRIDE, Richard's story. Talk about HOOOT!!! I can't wait for the other Cynster novels to come. We still have three Cynster rakes to go.

DEVIL'S BRIDE is a wonderful romantic read filled with humor, mystery, suspense, and a passionate love. I recommend it and the other Cynster novels. You'll love them! Trust me!

In the style of Julie Garwood, this story has an interesting plot, entertaining supporting characters, a strong hero to fall instantly in love with and a lovely heroine who can go toe-to-toe with him! What a terrific book! Even though the "whodunit" was really obvious, and the intrigue was not as clever as some of Amanda Quick's novels, it's forgiveable because I doubt Laurens intended to write a true suspense. The murder plot is an interesting (albeit not compelling) vehicle for the characters, allowing the romance to ignite and the love to mushroom with an entertaining amount of relationship conflict. (I detest books that have the hero and heroine constantly acting hateful to eachother all in the name of "sexual tension." Baloney!)

This is my first Laurens book, but will not be the last. It was a terrific read. After I devoured all of Julie Garwood's books I was left bereft of a comparable historical author, and I've read several. As much as I've enjoyed Amanda Quick, Judith McNaught, et al, Devil's Bride is better. As a historical to "fall in love with," this book is nearly up to the standard of Julie Garwood. I'm leaving now for the bookstore -- must order the rest of the Bar Cynster series...

This first novel in the Bar Cynster series is a tour de force for Stephanie Laurens. Devil Cynster, the Duke of St. Ives, is a great regency romance hero - aristocratic, extremely masculine, very sexy. He's made up his mind that Honoria Prudence is the wife for him, and he doggedly sets out to win her. Honor is a refreshing change from most regency heroines. She's sophisticated, not spunky; commanding, not wilfull; elegant, not dainty. It's easy to see why Devil (yes, the names of the Bar Cynster cousins are silly - do your best to ignore it) is so determined to have her as his duchess. Their courtship is wonderful - lots of tension and steamy love scenes. Even better, we get to see their relationship mature after their marriage. I'll be reading this one again and again!

This book was sooo great. I haven't read a better one yet. Right after I read this one I automatically bought A Rake's Vow and Scandal's Bride. They were really good too. The way Stephanie Laurens writes is amazing. She puts you right in the plot, right into every scene. I bought this book five months ago and have read it three times. The story is so good that it makes you wish it was real and not only that but you also wish that you were Honoria, or if your a guy, to be Devil. The characters are great. I think it is so wonderful how Devil protects Honoria through everything and how she does the same even if it meant going against his wishes in a big way. The romance is incredible, and don't forget the passion and pleasure! Where Stephanie Laurens learned to write scenes and details like that, I don't know. But she has a wonderful gift and I hope she never loses it. If you ever read any book make it this one! I wish for a love like this! Buy this book now, next thing you know, you'll be sitting here writing a review on your new favorite book. ~~~~~~

Okay, this book's been out a while and there are over 40 reviews on it already, so it's almost gratuitous to write this one, since it'll probably just get lost in the pile - but this book was so enjoyable that I needed to add my applause!

Sylvester, Sixth Duke of St. Ives, and the leader of the Cynster family (and otherwise known as Devil by those who love him), crosses paths with Honoria Prudence Anstruther-Wetherby when both find his cousing dying in the woods. Yes, it sounds like the stuff of melodrama, but the story is so well written that it's credible. Through some sort of sixth sense, and aided by the conservative conventions of the time, Devil sets his sights on Honoria as his bride-to-be. She, on the other hand, is much slower to warm up to him; she wants a life unfettered by social convention, even though at heart she was bred to be a peeress. In a nutshell, the book tells the story of their evolving relationship as the murder mystery is solved.

It's not too hard to figure out whodunnit if you are an experienced reader of mysteries. The pleasure of this book lies in watching these two strong personalities change one another and become attached to one another. Unlike some pieces of this period, the people and dialog are not stilted, shallow, or silly. The author spends plenty of time on developing her characters and their setting, with the result being a very sensual story with an enjoyable give and take between Devil and Honoria. Now I'm looking for the continued tales of the other Cynster men. Hope Ms. Laurens' talent holds strong!

This is a fantastic historical romance. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it and couldn't put it down until I turned the last page. Definitely left me wanting to read more about the Cynsters. The hero is your typical arrogant, chauvinistic romance man, who you know will just totally melt at the end of the book. The heroine is fantastic since she's not one of those "wimpy" characters who swoons every third page. She has a backbone! Ever since I read Captain Jack's Woman (another must-read for the romance lover) I've been hooked on Stephanie Laurens. Really looking forward to the rest of the Cynster family.

Based on the lavish reviews I read here and a strong recommendation from my mother, I was thoroughly anticipating a can't-put-it-down, singe-your-eyebrows-with-its-sensuality romance. Sadly, after the first chapter, I quickly became disenchanted with Laurens' tale-telling ability. First, the murder mystery, on which the plot so heavily depends, is the most elementaryish attempt at suspense I have ever encountered. Second, the heroine (Honoria) wants so desperately to visit Africa that she has suffered through years of work as a finishing governess before she can realize her dream. Yet, within a few months after meeting Devil, he convinces her of the stupidity of her dream. Why in the world did Devil not offer to visit Africa with Honoria? Instead, he arrogantly demands that Honoria stay at home, have babies and, tend to household matters. When she finally capitualtes, I threw the book down in vexation! My most glaring problem with the novel lies in the lack of unique characterization. I became so sick of Honoria's constant sewing and Devil's over-the-top alpha maleness. Yes, I want strong characters, but not one-dimensional ones. My final complaint about the novel centers on the purple prose of the love scenes. I don't know about other people's sexual experiences, but I found "sunburst's fire" and "incandescent glory" much too heavy handed a description.

Devil's Bride is the first in Stephanie Laurens' Cynster series. This book focuses on the leader of the Cynster's, Sylvester Sebastian Cynster, better known as Devil to the ton at large.

This is the story of Devil and Honoria, the woman he plans to make his wife, despite her protests, and dealing with a plot against their lives, coming from an unlikely source.

I loved the way the two lead characters interact and the fact that Honoria is determined not to fall beneath Devil's power, and stand's her ground at all times. It's refreshing to see an historical romance, where the heroine isn't 19, stepping into society for the first time, but a fully grown woman who knows what she wants and sets about to get it.

The romance in the story was fantastic, and the love scenes were smoldering. I enjoyed watching love grow between the two, even as they try to fight it.

I believe the Cynster motto is very apt: 'To Have and To Hold'.

This would have to be my all-time favourite book, and I reccommend it to every reader.

This is absolutely one "must read" romance.

This is the first book on the Bar Cynster series. Here the main characters of the Cynster family are presented along with "The pack", the other 5 Cynster cousins.

Honoria's and Devil's reluctance to accept that they are in love makes their attraction for each other sizzle. Their passionate moments are to be remembered forever!

You have to read this book!

Honoria Wetherby, a very exclusive governess, stumbles over a dying man on her way back to her employer's home one stormy evening. Her horse bolts and she's left alone with no way of helping the man... until a tall, dark and handsome stranger arrives. He takes her and the injured man to a cottage, whereupon Honoria discovers that her rescuer is the injured man's cousin, and he introduces himself as Devil.

The following morning, the shooting victim dead, Honoria finds out that `Devil' is actually Sylvester, the Duke of St Ives. And he discovers that her name is really Anstruther-Wetherby; she's of very good family indeed. Given that he's already attracted to her, the fact that he's compromised her is, from his point of view, very convenient.

But Honoria has other plans. She has no intention of marrying anyone, and especially not an arrogant duke who simply announces his plans for her. And she wants to travel to Africa and explore the continent; a husband doesn't figure in her plans at all. So they seem to be at an impasse... except that Honoria can't seem to help getting sucked into the duke's family, especially given their grief at young Tolly's death. Her skills with young girls come in very useful indeed.

And when everyone in the family, let alone Society in general, assumes that Honoria will marry Devil, how can she fight that? When his kisses heat her blood and make her want more, she realises how attracted to him she is too. So what of her own plans? Can she become Devil's Bride?

This is an enjoyable romp in most respects; however, there are a number of irritating elements which prevent it getting a higher rating. First, those names!! What on earth possessed Laurens to give her heroes names such as Devil, Scandal, Gabriel, Lucifer et al? What's the point? As someone else pointed out, they don't seem to do a lot to deserve them, and anyway it just sounds ridiculous. (Speaking of `Scandal', incidentally, since I read The Promise In A Kiss before reading this book, I was curious to discover where Sebastian's illegitimate son came from. The story of his arrival - and of Helena's unquestioning, even delighted, acceptance of him - is simply ridiculous and lacks all credibility).

Second, while I know this is Stephanie Laurens and not Jo Beverley or Mary Balogh, the behaviour of her characters as regards sex is not credible either. Sneaking around the house - in London and at Somersham - at night to bed-hop is ludicrous. Okay, Devil doesn't have a valet, but what about Honoria's maid? What about the footmen who may well do night duty? What about other occupants of the house hearing footsteps or other noises? I couldn't suspend credibility for that illicit lovemaking at all.

Third, I don't know where Laurens gets her ideas from about mourning, but deep mourning was for six months, and half-mourning for a further six months after that. There is no way at all that the family would have been preparing for a ball within six weeks of Tolly's death.

Fourth, the murder plot was so transparent even I could figure it out, and I'm no good at all with whodunits. I think I'd worked out the identity of the murder within about 30 pages. So then it got quite boring waiting for the characters to catch up with me - and when Laurens made it clear about 3/4 way through that Devil knew who it was but she kept it from the reader, I was shaking my head. Did she really think that people wouldn't have guessed it? As for the motive, again that was easy.

And fifth, the book really lost momentum after Devil and Honoria married. The only thing to sustain the plot from then on was the identity of the murderer, plus further attempts on Devil's life - that took up close to half the book, which was tedious given that by then the romance element had been wound up. Poor pacing there.

An entertaining light read, but no more than that.