Customer Reviews

Where the Heart Leads: From the Casebook of Barnaby Adair (Cynster, Book 15)

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

 

 

I've read all of Stephanie Lauren's novels, and I'm getting... a bit disappointed. Perhaps I've just come to expect more from her. This wasn't a bad book, but it wasn't her best or even close. I have liked Barnaby's character throughout the other novels he's appeared in, and was really looking forward to his story.

Things I liked: As others have mentioned, the mystery was a bit better than most of the others. The writing, as always is well done (although the "patience of Jove" still annoys me lol). I liked that although Barnaby felt protective, he wasn't constantly demanding that she obey him, or trying to force her to do things as he wished. He appeared to respect her opinion and listen to her comments (at least as the book got farther in).

Things I disliked: How many times do we have to hear about her "wits" and "senses"? Her "arguments" weren't really all that convincing. The near constant references to "men" being of inferior intellect. That, as another reviewer mentioned, her whole reason for pursuing a "relationship" with him was out of curiosity. That is a common theme in many of Ms. Laurens' novels, but in this case there seemed to be little else at that point.

As I said, it wasn't bad, but it wasn't good. I happily bought the book (electronic version), and am looking forward to more of her works (especially the Bastian Club series), but I'm pretty glad I didn't spend $25 on it.

I appreciate very much that Ms. Laurens is one of the best, most eloquent writers in the genre, and also that she has some of the steamiest sex scenes of any author. I just wasn't thrilled with this story, and would like to see more emphasis placed on "romance". I would happily read a longer novel if the quality of the mystery was equaled by the quality of the love story.

Here's the thing about Stephanie Laurens....like most other long-time romance writers, she recycles plots (or at least plot points), but so what? In her case, she has created such wonderful characters amongst all her books in print (especially, for me, the Cynsters and their cohorts), that I don't much care about the repetition. I like her people, like spending time with them, and let's get honest here...Ms. Laurens does one important thing really well (actually she does several, but we'll focus on the obvious for a moment). She writes great sex scenes, and isn't that what we're looking for, ladies? Can we not be more honest than the men who claim to buy Playboy magazine for the articles?

She leaves little to the imagination, however she never makes me cringe. And compared to what's come from the pens (make that computers) of some of my other favorite authors lately (Garwood, McGregor, Kleypas, et al), this book is a bloody masterpiece.

I loved the character of Penelope in earlier books and always wondered how she would turn out as an adult. And Barnaby has also made some memorable appearances in earlier books. So seeing the two of them brought together, in a plausible and interesting way, while enlarging and enhancing them as characters (both individually and as a couple) has made for a darn good read. Plus the plot was different, interesting and believable vis a vis the characters. Not another "met one night at a masked ball, never forgot", or "forced into marriage of convenience, then fall in love", or whatever seems to be the favorite this past year.

Anyway, I enjoyed this, more so I believe for having read the earlier books. It can stand on its own, but why let it when reading the earlier Cynster stuff is well worth the trip? Thanks Stephanie.

This was a really enjoyable story with two major threads, a major and a minor romance and a murder/kidnapping mystery with an unusual mix of characters from different social levels in society. More time in the book is actually given to the murder/kidnapping story where various young orphan boys are kidnapped before being taken to a Foundling Home in order to be trained as Burglar's Boys. Penelope Ashford, the administrator of the Foundling Home and the daughter of a Viscount, takes upon herself to investigate the disappearance of the boys. She knows she doesn't have the skills herself, although she has plenty of courage and energy, but she knows that Barnaby Adair, third son of an Earl, is known for investigating crimes and having links with the Police. She goes to Barnaby and persuades him to help her to find the boys, and thus starts this enjoyable plot.

Barnaby assumes that he can 'handle' Penelope but she soon confounds his ideas and expectations and he ends up working alongside her, sometimes following in her wake. Their attraction to each other becomes apparent but Penelope is dead set against marriage and so Barnaby has to use all his guile and his understanding of her nature to try to change her mind. There's a secondary romance between a policeman and his informant which is also sweet and well-written and an interesting insight into life for the middle classes and working classes in Regency London.

All the characters in this story are well drawn, ranging from the main characters to the dying mother of a young boy, and Laurens' pacing is always excellent. The point of view sometimes changes unexpectedly mid-text which can be a bit confusing and the historical detail is a bit suspect in that our heroine seems to be able to gad about all over the place without anyone noticing she's unchaperoned. However the story wouldn't work well if she was constantly under the surveillance of her parents so it's an acceptable fudge of historicity to further the plot. All in all this was a really enjoyable read with the kidnapping plot adding spice to the story.

Originally published for Curled Up With A Good Book © Helen Hancox 2008

Part romance, part mystery, this follows the story of Penelope, strong-willed sister of Lucien who appeared in a previous Cynster novel, and Barnaby Adair, the sleuthing third son of an earl, who apparently appeared in another. Penelope is the administrator of an orphanage, and seeks Barnaby's help when a number of youngsters are abducted. Although Barnaby and Penelope are both confirmed singletons, as they unravel the mystery they are drawn together and although Penelope fights her attraction to Barnaby, but there is never any doubt of the outcome.

For me the story was a bit contrived, particularly the ending, and Laurens has already done this plotline to death. She writes quite well, and is reasonably adept at conjuring up the atmosphere of the post Regency era. However, the one attempt at humour in the book did make me laugh, but for the wrong reasons, since it concerns on the heroine's inability to open mussels. Had she succeeded, the book would have been considerably shorter, since she would have died of food poisoning - healthy mussels open when cooked!

It isn't a bad book, just rather predictable. And since none of the Cynsters make an appearance, fans of the series may be disappointed. I understand it's the first of a new series by Laurens - I doubt I'll be reading any of them.

I don't get why others thought this book was so good. I thought it was boring and slow paced and didn't find the herione at all interesting. The hero was ok but the story just plodded along with truly not much happening.

I'll admit it -- I've read every one of Stephanie Laurens' books. As other reviewers have pointed out, she seemed to run out of steam in the Cynster series a couple books back. But in "Where the Heart Leads" I think she's back in mid-season form with two very likeable, personable, intelligent and compassionate leads. As a bonus, you get to see, in much lesser detail, the courtship of another couple play out over the course of the story.

I found Barnaby and Penelope's story -- as well as Basil and Griselda's (OMG -- what a name!) -- extremely engaging and devoid of the normal artificial "obstructions" that many Regency novelists fall back on. The backdrop of 19th century police investigations was extremely interesting, and the patented Laurens love scenes were very well done.

Here's my only critique -- after 20 or so books, I'm amazed that Stephanie Laurens can't manage to disguise her villians better. Seriously, she stops just short of having a huge neon sign with "Bad Guy" and an arrow to point him out! It's just sad. In this book, she spends so much time building up the suspense by giving the villian a pseudonym, but makes his identity obvious when he is introduced into a scene with the two heroes as an incidental character...and he is the only incidental character in the entire 400 page book who is described in negative terms. Face it, Agatha Christie she's not.

But she is a very talented writer, with a gift for beautiful, descriptive writing. These characters, and this book, are worth spending a few hours with on a cold fall day.

I use to love Stephanie Laurens books but it seems like she is getting paid by the word now.
I loved her books until `What Price Love'. I stopped buying them for a while after several bad ones in a row and thought I'd give her another change.

I made it through 100 pages in 2 days with `Where The Heart Leads'. I found myself trying to rewrite paragraphs so that they weren't so annoying.
I generally read a paperback in 2-3 days.

From all objective criteria, I should have adored this book. Smart female heroine; hero finds her sexy for her mind even more than her looks; mystery to solve that doesn't involve deep dark secrets of the lead characters. And I 'm a big fan of Stephanie Laurens and the Cynster series. What more could anyone ask?

That's why I was so puzzled when I found the book just average. (Granted, average for Stephanie Laurens is much better than a lot of writers manage.) I guess it was almost too intellectual and not enough emotional: Penelope wanted to have sex with Barnaby because she was curious, not for any emotional connection. (Not to mention that neither character gave any consideration to the prospect of her getting pregnant, though Barnaby planned to marry her even before they were intimate.) I don't read romance novels for the sex scenes: I want the romance, the vicarious thrill of two people (or two couples in the case of this book) falling in love. I didn't get that "zing" from this book, unlike many of the prior Cynster books.

However, if this is going to be the start of a series where the four main characters solve mysteries, I think I could get to enjoy it because the mystery portion of the book was much better for me than the romance part.

Do you enjoy Regency romances, vicariously visiting another time and place ? Do you like a narrative laced with descriptions of a heroine whose senses alternately swoon or quake and nerves clench at the slightest touch of a tall, handsome ? If so, you'll find much to relish in the latest by Australian novelist Stephanie Laurens.

This author has also crafted a mystery to accompany the increasing palpitations of Penelope Ashford and Barnaby Adair's roguish come-hither behavior. While the mystery is an intriguing one involving some of the most dastardly villains since Fagin in Oliver Twist, it certainly takes second place to the love stories Ms. Laurens has woven.

It is late one evening when we first meet Barnaby, who is known for uncovering the shenanigans of his fellow aristocrats. While his latest feat has been praised by many, including the Prime Minister, he's not reveling in his victory, but feels rather at a loss. We take it a bit bored - that is until the doorbell rings at this unlikely hour and Penelope is ushered into his parlor.

Penelope is a rather unusual heroine - beautiful, of course, but wearing gold rimmed glasses. Barnaby remembers what he'd heard of her - that "she was something of a firebrand, one who paid scant attention to social restraints if said restraints stood in her way." Precisely so as she's cast propriety aside to come to his home unescorted at an untimely hour. She is seeking his help. Penelope is the director of a foundling home, an institution that takes in orphans primarily from the East End. Once there the youngsters are well cared for and trained to be maids, footmen, etc.

The problem is that in the past month alone four of the boys who should have gone to the home have been taken by someone unknown before Penelope or others could pick them up. Naturally, she fears for their safety and wants the kidnappers stopped before more boys are taken.

Barnaby agrees to help her and enlists the assistance of his good friend, Inspector Basil Stokes. When it becomes obvious that they must somehow penetrate the East End in an effort to learn more, Stokes calls upon Griselda Martin, a former East Ender who now runs a millinery shop. No surprise - romance blossoms between this pair also.

Thus, Laurens presents two very different couples united by one baffling pursuit, while at the same time each explores the intricacies of his or her emotions. Just what this author's fans will stand in line for.

- Gail Cooke

I'm not sure how this book received a four star review, but I don't think I can even finish it. It was painful to get to page 130. I have read just about everything writtin by Stepanie Laurens and loved most, but this seems like it was written by someone else. I'm having a hard time finding anything likeable in Penelope's character. She's bossy and opinionated to the point of being rude. I feel bad for Barnaby. I did like the chemistry between Stokes and Griselda and wish the book were written just about them. It kills me not to be able to get through a book, but this one's going in the donation box. I suggest you check out Stephanie Laurens' older books. She has written many interesting and entertaining stories.