A Gentleman's Honor (Bastion Club) [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephanie Laurens (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this steamy Regency, the second in Laurens's new Bastion Club series (following The Lady Chosen), Lord Anthony Blake, a former spy for England, finds himself at loose ends after the fall of Napoleon. Genteel widow Alicia Carrington, who's in London to chaperone her younger sister, puts an end to Anthony's ennui when she stumbles upon a dead body at a soiree and he stumbles upon her at the same time. A mysterious villain seems determined to frame Alicia for the murder, but the real danger lies in the secret she's hiding from everyone-including Anthony, who quickly insinuates himself into her life. As in all of Laurens's romances, the love scenes are passionate, and chemistry hums between the pair. Alicia is a classic Laurens heroine: plucky and determined. Anthony is high-handed at times but not offensively so. Although the romantic tension relies heavily on a few unspoken words, it's entertaining to watch the baffled couple finally admit to their feelings. Unfortunately, the mystery subplot is less compelling, depending as it does on following a paper trail that offers up little drama. Still, Laurens's fans should be more than satisfied with this heady tale.
Copyright 2003 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science, a hobby that quickly became a career. Her novels set in Regency England have captivated readers around the globe, making her one of the romance world's most beloved and popular authors.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 464 pages
• Publisher: Avon; Regular Print/Single Titl edition (September 30, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0060002077
• ISBN-13: 978-0060002077
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.5 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (32 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #146,458 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Laurens, Stephanie

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars SIZZLING SENSUALITY, August 7, 2004

By 

B. Roby "btimesfive" (Cumberland, Maryland United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: A Gentleman's Honor (Bastion Club) (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all Stephanie Laurens' books. Some have been hits, some have been misses. This one is a hit!

Book One of this new Bastion Club series was a good story and a good heroine. Book Two combines a great heroine and a sensuality that begins in chapter one and doesn't miss a beat throughout the entire novel.

The series revolves around seven English spies, now off-duty, who bond over finding their own wives instead a letting society matrons manipulate their choices. Naturally, each book will be about one of the men, his wife search, and a mystery he solves using his spy skills. It works for me!

The only three drawbacks of this novel are characteristic Laurens' style: the "mirror sex," the heroine's "teach me" excuse to have sex, and a mystery that takes a little too long to resolve. With that said, however, the mirror sex in this novel does not seem contrived as in some Laurens' novels, and the heroine's confidence and ability to defend herself against the villian is inspiring. I liked Alicia's spunk, resourcefulness, determination, self-preservation, leadership, and tenderness -- a great character!

This book even brings back Jack and Kit from "Captain Jack's Woman" -- a book that causes second-degree hand burns while reading it! Laurens gives "A Gentleman's Honor" the same sizzle treatment...minus "Jack's" table sex!

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stephanie Laurens Is Back, October 6, 2003

By 

Elspeth M. Mcclanahan "mcelspeth" (Raleigh NC) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A Gentleman's Honor (Bastion Club) (Mass Market Paperback)

"A Gentleman's Honor" is the 2nd Book in the Bastion Series. Though I enjoyed the 1st book in the series, A LADY CHOOSEN there was alot of background needed to get the reader up to speed. I feel with the second book, this book, that SL was able to focus on the story line and the hero and heroine more.
As always Alicia is a strong and independent SL Heroine and is not likely to let our hero Tony come in and just save the day, not with out her knowing what is going on. We get to know more of the members of the Bastion club, sort of wetting our appitites for the books to come.
SL also brings back characters from her Cynster series, nice to see characters we love before they are married, as well as the hero and heroine from her book "Captain Jacks Woman" Though its nice if you have read CJW it is not nessesary to enjoy "A Gentleman Honor." If you like SL you will more then like enjoy this book too.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Sizzling hot sex scenes. Lukewarm plot., October 12, 2003

By 

Thea (FL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Gentleman's Honor (Bastion Club) (Mass Market Paperback)

Stephanie Laurens keeps concentrating more on the sex scenes than in the actual plot of her novels. I don't have anything against the sex scenes, actually, I think she writes some of the best ones in the genre, but they would be much better if they complemented a strong plot, instead of just being the plot.

The intrigue was entertaining enough, nothing too deep, but I wasn't expecting that, after all this is a romance novel, not a mistery one, but the problem is that there is not any other plot in the novel. There is no conflict between the main characters, no emotional tension, no heart wrenching separation, no fear of loss, not even a small misunderstanding that would cause a rift between them. The only problem to work out was catching the killer of Ruskin. Other than that, there was only the sex scenes to keep the book going.

I'm not saying that the book was bad. Stephanie Laurens is a great writer, and the book is amusing, but I know it could be better, I know this author could give much more. Her heroes are delightful, without exception, I just know that if she spent more time in the relationship between the hero and heroine, she could create a great novel.

One thing I did like about this book, is the presence of characters we know from her other novels. I hope the Cynsters continue to appear throughout this series, and maybe even have a bigger role, like Jack Hendon had in this book. I'm thinking he is from the book "Captain Jack's Woman". I haven't read it yet, since other experiences I have had with Laurens' pre-Cynsters books are not good, but now I think I might go and read it.

And there is Dalziel. This character gets more interesting by the minute. He really reminds me of the Marquess of Rothgar, from Jo Beverley's Malloren series. I would like to read his story soon, but I realize it may be some time before it is released, since probably all the Bastion Club members have to come first, and now Laurens is going back to the Cynster series with the story of Michael, Honoria's brother from "Devil's Bride". This I don't understand. Why writting the story of Michael while in the middle of another series? He is a likeable character, but not one that was screaming for his story.

Anyway, if you are a big fan of Stephanie Laurens, and enjoyed the Cynsters books, you probably will like this one too. I will certainly continue to read her novels, as they are better that most of the stuff out there.