On a Wild Night (Cynster Novels) [Mass Market Paperback]

Stephanie Laurens (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cynster Novels | Publication Date: April 2, 2002

Where are all the exciting men in London?

After spending years in the glittering ballrooms of the ton, Amanda Cynster is utterly bored by the current crop of colorless suitors. Determined to take matters into her own hands, one night she shockingly goes where no respectable lady ever should, but where many an intriguing gentleman might be found.

But titillating excitement quickly turns to panic when Amanda discovers she′s quite out of her depth. She looks around for help -- and is unexpectedly rescued by the Earl of Dexter. Lean, sensuous, and mysterious, he has delayed re-entering society, preferring instead a more interesting existence on its fringes.

He′s the epitome of the boldly passionate gentleman Amanda has been searching for, but although his very touch makes it clear he′s willing to educate her in the art of love, Amanda has to wonder if such a masterful, lionized rake can be sufficiently tamed into the ways of marriage.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Veteran romance author Laurens adds to her early 19th-century Cynster family saga with this highly sensual tale featuring 23-year-old Amanda Cynster, cousin of the six former rogues who starred in Laurens's earlier entries (The Promise in a Kiss, etc.). After six years on the marriage mart, Amanda and her twin, Amelia, despairing of ever finding the right mate, have decided to broaden their search. While browsing for prospects in a notorious gaming hell, Amanda encounters Martin Fulbridge, fifth earl of Dexter. Banished from England by his father for a murder he didn't commit, Martin eschews London's elite circles and has been living abroad for the past 10 years. Nevertheless, he finds himself playing the part of Amanda's protector as she flits from one disreputable venue to another in a spurious quest for adventure. Inevitably, Amanda is "compromised," but she's unwilling to settle for anything less than a marriage based on love. The solving of the 10-year old murder mystery, though hasty, doesn't detract from the primary players and their witty repartee, but newcomers to the series may be put off by Amanda's anachronistic behavior (she has sex with Martin out of wedlock and frequently goes about without a chaperone). Still, readers will relish Laurens's spunky heroine and sizzling love scenes.
Copyright 2002 Cahners 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: 432 pages
• Publisher: Avon (April 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0380812037
• ISBN-13: 978-0380812035
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.3 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (82 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #16 in Books > 4-for-3 Books > Romance > Authors, A-Z > ( L ) > Laurens, Stephanie

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars The same book over and over and over, May 29, 2002

By 

camille (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: On a Wild Night (Cynster Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I won't describe the plot since others have done that well. Rather I have a question:
Is it just me or is it true that every Cynster male in every Cynster book (with the exception of Scandal's Bride) is exactly the same man? Moreover, the tension in every relationship in these books revolves around the man's refusal to say "I love you" and the woman's refusal to marry until he does so. And then of course there is the requisite attempted or actual murder or some mystery to solve.
By the time I read this book, I felt like saying Enough already! Come up with a new problem for the men or make the woman fearful of saying the words or...well, something, anything...this is getting really boring!" If I had not read the previous books, I would have enjoyed this book more, but since it is one in a long series, the lack of diversity in male character development was glaring.
Moreover, I never felt that we "knew" Amanda  her entire goal from beginning to end was to marry a man just like her male cousins  this does not suffice for an entire character in a book of this length. Her ability to mislead her parents, or rather the lack of parental involvement in her life, seems a little unlikely in this time period. The couple's ability to find empty rooms for sex or to slip away to Martin's home for sexual assignations also seemed unbelievable. The scene I found most hard to believe was the swing scene in someone's conservatory while Amanda's male cousins guarded the room from the outside. If they are SO protective, why are they not only complacent about her premarital sexual escapades, but actually assist in the assignations? ( I just did not buy the argument that they did so to further Martin's courtship, for crying out loud just tell the guy he needs to say "I love you.".) Please, Ms. Laurens, devise some new male characters.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Believe me, you've been here before., April 7, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: On a Wild Night (Cynster Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

I suppose that my biggest problem with this book is that the major characters never take the time to fall in love. Amanda meets Martin once and decides to pursue him. And the pursuit is so very predictable - rogue takes innocent to dens of iniquity. Then once Martin is "caught" the story is stretched out as Amanda tries to force him to admit that he loves her. Neither character receives more than surface development. This is book without Cynster fire and humor. Too bad.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Not much substance here., June 20, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: On a Wild Night (Cynster Novels) (Mass Market Paperback)

This is the first Laurens book I have ever read and it may be the last. There is not much of substance to keep one interested. The characters are not well developed, the relationship is shallow and the murder mystery is [bad].

First of all, what did she see in Martin? Admittedly, he seemed promising at their first meeting when he rescues her during an ill-advised card game, but after that? Almost every facial description of him used the word "stony" or he was gritting his teeth or barely suppressing anger. Though he's handsome and sexy, what else is he? He has no sense of humor, does nothing but brood - sounds like fun! The author was a bit more generous with Amanda, but though she is smart and vivacious, she also comes off as completely calculating and shallow. Other than sex what was there between these two characters? Not much! Once the thrill of forbidden sex is gone, will these two have anything to say to each other? I never thought I'd say this but there were so many sex scenes in the book (though they were hot) it became boring!

And what's with Amanda carrying on in such a "shocking" fashion for the times? How is she getting away with this? I hardly think her behavior would have been acceptable nor even possible for an aristocratic young lady of the day. How is she sneaking off with a houseful of family and servants? Where are her parents? And then when Martin tells her male cousins what has transpired between him and Amanda, they aren't even shocked! They immediately accept him as a part of the family!! It just all seems so unrealistic and even silly.

Well, I guess I'll be reading the companion book about Amanda's twin Amelia anyway, since I've already bought it, but if it's anything like this one, it's going to be tough to finish! But at least Lucien Ashford seems to have more going for him than Martin - more personality, more humor. At least I hope so!!!