The Taste of Innocence (Cynster Novels) [Kindle Edition]

Stephanie Laurens (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The 14th novel in Laurens's bestselling Cynster series, set amid the glittering ton of early 19th-century England, does little more than preserve the family line. Charlie Morwellan, eighth earl of Meredith, admits it is time, with the "matchmakers perennially salivating," to shackle himself to a suitable, docile countess. But he swears he will never (as his father did, bringing the family to the brink of ruin) allow love to control him. He sets his sights on quiet Sarah Conningham, a childhood acquaintance, who has made up her mind, despite her family's protests, to settle only for a genuine love match. Charlie stubbornly tries to remain aloof—even as Sarah tries to compel him to admit his love for her. Meanwhile, a nefarious (and anonymous) land speculator has his sights on Sarah's land (where she operates a village orphanage) and manages to interpose himself between the couple. The plot moves briskly but with little tension, and the author introduces a variety of intriguing side characters (many of whom, like Devil Cynster, will be familiar to fans), only to whisk them quickly offstage. While the love scenes sizzle, Charlie and Sarah dispatch their conflict with little fanfare, and the villain's motives and actions are unconvincing. (Feb.)
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From Booklist

The Earl of Meredith has decided it is finally time to marry. Charlie has even found the perfect candidate for his future wife: Sarah Conningham. Now he has to find some way to convince her to go along with his plan. Although she has secretly been infatuated with Charlie for years, Sarah refuses to marry for anything less than love. So, she gives Charlie two weeks to prove that they belong together. Charlie intends to simply seduce Sarah, but much to his surprise, he finds himself falling in love with her instead! Laurens expertly spices up the passion-rich plot with danger and intrigue, making the fourteenth in her best-selling Cynster series sinfully sexy and deliciously irresistible. John Charles
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

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Product Details

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 469 KB
• Print Length: 462 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0060840870
• Publisher: HarperCollins e-books; 1 edition (October 13, 2009)
• Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
• Language: English
• ASIN: B000NJL78M
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• Average Customer Review: 2.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,674 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)
  • #71 in Books > Literature & Fiction > World Literature > Australia & New Zealand

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Hard To Finish, March 16, 2007

By 

E. A. Montgomery (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Taste of Innocence (Hardcover)

This is a disappointing entry in the Cynster series, perhaps even a series ender. I couldn't get past page 73 for several days so tonight I decided to read the book or abandon it. While there's plenty of sex, there's no sexual tension in The Taste of Innocence. The hero and heroine have no conflict to work out. The side plot is pretty paint by numbers and the resolution (while different) is almost absurd in it's improbability. You can't suspend disbelief enough there. You've got the classic 'My father did something wrong but it was for love, now I must never love to avoid doing things wrong' but it's given to a hero who is surrounded by successful love relationships among his family and friends. It's implausible that he would still attribute his father's failings to 'the obsession of love.' So he's trying to court a neighbor for 'practical' reasons, even though he can't stay out of her clothes, and she's on the fence about marrying him because she wants love. They tryst beyond all reader interest in trysting so she can decide he MUST be ready to love if he's willing to get naked, and they marry within the week. Then, with the honesty being too much and all, he decides to be formal during the day to kill their feelings. Oh, and she runs an orphanage, of course. And there's some crazy villian doing crazy villiany things before turning into the most surreal relationship counselor ever. If you can't make it past page 73 either, skip ahead to that part, it's something to read for yourself. I really like Stephanie Laurens and I'm disappointed to give a negative review to one of her books. Honestly, there are so many excellent releases this month that if you must read The Taste of Innocence, I'd hit the library or wait for mass market.

17 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Not her best work, March 8, 2007

By 

Musing (Athens, AL USA) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Taste of Innocence (Hardcover)

I think it is time to let the Cynster saga go except for some cameo appearances in the Bastien Club novels. This latest one did not maintain a whole lot of sexual tension or develop an interesting relation between the two principal characters.

I've been trying to figure out exactly why. I think it's because the novel bogs down a bit too much in its description of Sarah and Charlie's internal feelings and dialogues. I think the dialogues are generally believeable and well-written taken by themselves. But, over the course of the book they generate a ponderous sense of inertia.

I have really enjoyed the Bastien books lately though.

19 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Same plot, same characters... why bother?, March 28, 2007

By 

romance reader (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Taste of Innocence (Hardcover)

This book is just like the last 10 books by Stephanie Laurens. Domineering nobleman who can't bring himself to say "I love you." Insipid lady who is willing to have hot sex every night but won't marry until said domineering nobleman says he loves her. Endless descriptions of really boring sex, with something faintly resembling a plot stuck in between the sex scenes.

This book is a waste of perfectly good trees. At least I got it from the library...