Customer Reviews

To Distraction LP (Bastion Club)

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(13)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I read all of Stephanie Laurens books, and will definitely read the next, but she has done better work and I really hope the next one is better. If I were to catagorize this volume, it would be a bodice ripper. Her hero is "male", "primitive", even "dangerous". To the point that I started counting the number of times she used the words. Eventually even that got old and I would just turn the page to get on with the story. Her heroine is "intelligent", "capable" and "independent", yet justifiably afraid of this dark large Alpha male :shiver:. Yeah right!

I agree with the other reviewers who felt that the book was 100 pages too long, most of it used for the tripe above. It almost felt like she was stretching it.

However, it does wind up nicely with two interesting little cliff hangers at the end. But at least the one about Dalziel seems to be tossed in as if she just remembered it. Apparently we will see the real villian of this place somewhere else as it seems she still has work for him.

If you have read her other novels, including Captain Jack's Woman, then this is one for you. But if you are just starting, I'd start elsewhere.

The most attractive thing about this book is the Hero. Deverell, Viscount Paignton is just so so beautiful and lovable. He could not be more perfect physically or otherwise. You will fall in love with him every time. I know I did. Problem is I have met him before - many, many times before. See, he was also Gabriel, Devil, Tony, Tristan, Jack, Scandal, Vane and all the others. Just very superficial changes - color of eyes or hair. Ms. Laurens only knows how to write about this one type of alpha-male. She even uses the same phrases: the social mask, holding on to his demons, protecting his female etc etc.

And the same applies to the heroine. See if you recognize her: She is so independent; doesn't want to get married; she wants to experience the "pleasures" without getting married; she needs to be carefully initiated into the art of love-making starting from the very first kiss; after the first time, she will have sex every day or night for as long as the courtship lasts without giving a thought to the possibility of pregnancy; she rushes headlong into "dangerous" situations from which she has to be rescued by the hero, even after recognizing that she is in love with the hero, she needs "something more" to convince her that she needs to get married etc etc. In this book she is Phoebe Malleson but you know she was also Alathea, Flick, Leonora or any of the others.

The plot was so superficial. The reasons given why these women turn their backs on the institution of marriage are so ridiculous - especially for that era. You know how with some authors you will actually cry with the characters, it doesn't happen with Laurens. Superficial.

I don't think this book was well written at all. You read one whole chapter before you are introduced to the heroine. You are two-thirds into the book before you realize that there is a real villain. I read one reviewer who thought that the writing was just so perfect. I totally disagree as I thought that there was almost an underlying tinge of desperation in the writing. Ms. Laurens was trying so hard to write a good book. All those two-word sentences were so melodramatic which resulted in the rolling of the eyes quite a few times. I noticed that this book was not released in hardcover format and do hope that it is not a sign that the publishers have had enough of her formulaic approach and are about ready to pull the plug on her. As irritating and annoying as I find her writing sometimes, I do enjoy reading about THE MAN in whichever way she presents him to us. At least please let her tell us about Dalziel. Awaiting his arrival.

I honestly like almost everything Stephanie Laurens has written. Obviously some readers have gotten a wee bit tired of her standard formula, but if you're after hot and sexy historical *escapist* romances, she does a consistently better job than almost every other writer out there. She's writing for a 21st century audience, who likes hunky alpha males and intelligent, spirited heroines who aren't willing to settle for some ordinary, boring gentleman. There's been some surprising grumblings in the reviews here, so please note that the point of these novels is romantic erotica, not historical accuracy. The only historical romance author I've read who has handled realities such as contraception well is Robin Schoen, and her novels are a lot darker.

The romance, the overall story and the writing here was good enough that I've read this book twice. Our hero may have initiated their relationship (doh! Isn't that what alpha males are supposed to do?), but, despite her initial reservations, she was a full, willing and intrigued participant, and well able to keep him from riding roughshod over her despite his "possessive, obsessive" tendencies and nearly overwhelming maleness. I also liked that he admired her for what she was doing to rescue women, and that he helped her rather than just take over. Overall, this is an excellent addition to the enjoyable Bastion series - all of which I recommend! And I can't wait to find out what kind of heroine captures the elusive Dalziel - so keep'um coming!

It's been a while since I've Stephanie Laurens. I think the Twins book was the last one. No, I am sorry. I stopped reading the Cynster books with the Twins but I read the first in the Bastion Club series as I was hopeful that it was the neverending Cynster series that soured me on your writing, not your writing itself. While The Lady Chosen wasn't all bad, it wasn't enough to keep me reading the series. I was hoping that because it had been so long since I last read a Laurens that this one would seem fresh and new.

Deverell, Viscount Paignton, recognizes it is time to marry and set up his household. His aunt, Audrey, tells him that she has the perfect woman for Deverell. Skeptical, Deverell agrees to meet Phoebe Malleson, a twenty-five year old spinster. Upon meeting Phoebe, Deverell immediately agrees with his aunt's assessment and sets out to win Phoebe. Phoebe does not desire to wed, having her own plans and goals and believing a husband would interfere with said plans and goals.

Throw in a villian who threatens Phoebe's life and you have your standard Laurens story. I will say that the villians in the book were more interesting and multi dimensional than the ones in previous books but the ending was not convincing as it related to one of the villains. The secondary romance involving Audrey was haphazardly written. Mostly it was forgotten although the author penned a few lines to let us know that there was interest. As secondary romances go, it was a pretty poor effort.

The major problem I had with the story involved the hero and heroine. The hero's name is Deverell, but after the first sex scene, I began to call him Simon. You see, Simon, err, Deverell, controlled virtually every movement of the heroine. He told her what to do and she did it. "Put your right foot in, pull your right foot out . . ." Light the candles. Unbutton your dress. Put your hands on me. Do this. Do that. Every sex scene involved Simon directing the show. Not once did Phoebe take the lead. Simon allowed her to go so far, both outside the bedroom and inside, and do certain things but always behind the curtain was the idea that he would be the one to curtail any activity he deemed unacceptable. She never stepped over that boundary. Most disturbing was that the allegedly independent heroine did not balk at the covert and overt control Simon exerted over her life. I was oppressed just reading the book.

I guess Phoebe was the perfect woman. She was smart, a wildcat in bed, and still would do everything you told her to do. Laurens writes smoothly but ponderously, still employing the one phrase per sentence paragraph. Every thought and emotion is detailed. Nothing is left to the imagination. I could accept that on a not so regular basis, but all the good writing in the world can't make me like characters like these.

I loved this book. The plot device is a common one: woman doesn't want to marry, man must change her mind. But in this instance Phoebe's desire not to marry was backed up with real evidence that she truly had an interesting, useful life and didn't need a man to fill her time. She had a purpose for going to teas and balls all day and her strength of character was real and vital. I loved her from the first when upon meeting Deverell she towed him around the house party introducing him to every OTHER marriageable female in attendance. Clever, clever girl.

But most of all I just loved him! His little fantasy plays were delicious. I would have loved hearing him whisper all that sexy nonsense in my ear! Laurens has something new there, I hope she uses that again in the future. He was definitely a manly man but could also step back and allow Phoebe to lead when appropriate. Yes, What a man!

Sigh, sigh, one can dream........

I thought this book was good but then all her others were too. I guess when you are a popular author the fear of failure may be so strong that you will stick to what works and what sells - the same alpha male and sassy female. Usually, I have no problems with this because given the same type of people in different situations and surroundings, they may develop differently or respond differently, but unfortunately, the surroundings are just masked differently but are actually the same. Now that is where the problem lies - its the same book with a different jacket and not the same characters within different situations (which I would be ok with). I think Laurens has become commercialized - too commercialized. When you grab a book and it feels like going to the supermarket and grabbing a brand of cereal - you know you are in trouble. Try Teresa Medeiros (love this woman), Elizabeth Thornton, Laura Lee Ghurke, Barbara Dan (newcomer) - you won't be disappointed. For some reason, Christina Dodd, Nora Roberts, Jennifer Blake, Virgina Henley, Stephanie Laurens, Lisa Kleypas, Cathy Maxwell, Connie Mason, Jo Beverly, Connie Brockway, and a few more I cannot remember seems to be very popular but for me, so hard to like any of their books. Does anyone else out there feel the same way?

I am not a usually a stickler for historical accuracy, but this novel crossed barriers I didn't even know I had. A Regency era lady whose family turns a blind eye to her lover sneaking into the house every night??? Please, it was just over the top. I am done with Stephanie Laurens after this book. Her early Cynster books are wonderful, but I have found the Bastion series uninspired.

LOVE Stephanie Lauren books; I have read them ALL!!! But this one is so, so slow; it takes forever for the story to build. Pages and pages saying the same thing and so predictable. Makes you wonder if an author gets paid by the page. If you like reading about one kiss for 3 pages, this is your book. If you want that kiss mixed with a solid story, perhaps this is not the book for you. Still a good story though you can easily skip pages and not miss a thing.

There's no question that Stephanie Laurens is a good writer. In years past, I would eagerly await her books and devour them quickly. But, these days, they all seem alike. This is a competently written story, but the "intrigue" is pretty blase. Her characters aren't that different from every other hero and heroine she's created in the past. And the plot is stretched 100 pages too long. "To Distraction" isn't very distracting. I'll try not to give up on her, because there are fewer and fewer good writers concentrating on the Regency era. Here's hoping she can create better characters and plots in the future.

I've really enjoyed the Bastion Club books...maybe with the exception of A Lady of His Own. Anyway, I've waited a longtime for this book to be released only to be just a little disappointed. The plot was okay but it took a while to really get into the grit of things. So why almost 500 pages? Sex---plain and simple. I enjoy reading a steamy novel just as well as the next person does but this book had more sex than story.

I waited a whole year for...disappointment? Not quite but I have a lukewarm feeling on this latest Bastion installment.

I think I'll send my purchase to the used book store just like I did with A Lady of His Own.