Devils Bride Cynster Novels
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009
To Have…
When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromising position with plucky governess Honoria Wetherby, he astonishes the entire tom by offering his hand in marriage. No one dreamed this scandalous rake would ever take a bride. And as society mamas swooned at the loss of England’s most eligible bachelor, Devil’s infamous Cynster cousins began to place wagers on the wedding date.
…And To Hold
But Honoria wasn’t about to bend society’s demands and marry a man “just” because they’d been found together virtually unchaperoned. No, she craved adventure, and while solving the murder of a young Cynster cousin fit he ill for a while, she decided that once the crime was solved she’d go off to see the world. But the scalding heat of her unsated desire for Devil soon had Honoria craving a very different sort of excitement. Could her passion for Devil cause her to embrace the enchanting peril of a lifelong adventure of the heart?
TO HAVE. . .
When Devil, the most infamous member of the Cynster family, is caught in a compromising position with plucky governess Honoria Wetherby, he astonishes the entire tom by offering his hand in marriage. No one dreamed this scandalous rake would ever take a bride. And as society mamas swooned at the loss of Englands most eligible bachelor, Devils infamous Cynster cousins began to place wagers on the wedding date.
. . .AND TO HOLD
But Honoria wasnt about to bend societys demands and marry a man just because theyd been found together virtually unchaperoned. No, she craved adventure, and while solving the murder of a young Cynster cousin fit he ill for a while, she decided that once the crime was solved shed go off to see the world. But the scalding heat of her unsated desire for Devil soon had Honoria craving a very different sort of excitement. Could her passion for Devil cause her to embrace the enchanting peril of a lifelong adventure of the heart?
User Ratings and Reviews
4 Stars I really enjoyed this book, but where’s my “I love you!”
*gasp* Where’s my “I love you?” I never realized how important this was until I finished this book and realized our hero never says it to his heroine. I even went back and skimmed through the book again, sure I had missed it. Grrrr.
Besides that, this was a really good book. I enjoyed it, immensely. Devil was adorable, with his puffed up sense of importance, and Honoria was exactly the type of no nonsense woman he needed to keep him in line. These two have quite a love affair and the fact that it had plenty of sexy love scenes was just icing on the cake. The book starts out with a bang, with the murder of Devil’s cousin which Honoria happened to come across right at the end. This forces our hero and heroine to spend the night together and of course the following morning everyone thinks they have been caught in flagrante delicto. Devil then proceeds to inform everyone that he will be marrying Miss Honoria as soon as his period of mourning for his cousin is over. Honoria is quite adamant that they will not be marrying but with the sort of suave manipulations that Devil has been using all his life, he soon manuevers her right where he wants her. Into his arms and into his bed.
Their lovemaking was just so much fun! I loved how Devil wanted a clear and concise declaration from Honoria that she was accepting his suit before he allowed her to seduce him. I laughed when he said that, then kicked her out of his bedroom. Priceless.
The plot involving the entire Cynster family was at first pretty intricate but it quickly turns into a tried and true battle over title and money. Stephanie Laurens threw in enough twists and turns to make it fresh and interesting, though, and the villain was dastardly enough to make it all worthwhile.
This was my first Cynster book and I enjoyed it all so much. I loved all the new characters, especially all the Cynster men and I am looking forward to reading more and testing out their invincibility complex once all these delicious men find their own ladies. All the men seem to have their own sense of personality and flair and they all seemed so mysterious and intriguing. It was extremely enjoyable reading about the scion of this proud and noble family, Devil Cynster, and how he fell so hard and fast for Honoria. While he may never say, “I love you,” it was plain as day he did, so it wasn’t too bad. There is a scene when he thinks Honoria has betrayed him and his cold anger and jealousy was thrilling and shiver inducing and believable as only a man in love could be. I can’t wait to read more.
2 Stars If you don’t like the adjective ‘regally’, don’t read this book!
The first part of this book was a total disaster. Honoria was supposed to be determined, and confident, and independent. But despite this, she let the hero, who was an arrogant bully, lead her around. ***spoiler warning!*** He kept telling her they are going to get married. She kept telling him no. But she let him get away with not just words, but actions as well – presenting her as his bride, installing her in his house, commanding her, kissing her whenever he felt like doing it… And she didn’t want any of this. Except for his kisses – because whenever he kissed her, she couldn’t think anymore. And even if they were in a middle of a fight, all he had to do was kiss her and she would forget everything. Come on! I hate heroines who can be controlled by simple kisses, especially if the hero is as unlikable as this one!
Then Honoria wakes up one morning and decides that her dreams of Africa were only a childish dreams, and that she is in love with Devil and that she will indeed marry him. Oh, what a surprise! And I forgot to mention – everything she did up until this point she did ‘regally’. This adjective was used so many times that I was going mad!!!! She sat regally, she nodded regally, she walked regally, she stood regally, she lifted her chin regally… Oh, come on!!
Well, the middle part of the book was quite fine, and the time when Devil wanted to give her time to freely decide whether to marry him or not was actually quite funny. But unfortunately, this part didn’t last. Soon, the adjective ‘regally’ came along again, and there were a few so very long and so very boring love scenes that I almost fell asleep at the spot. I like love scenes, but I don’t want to read 10 pages about how he kissed her and another 10 about how he kissed her breasts and another 10 about how he undressed her and another 10 about how they finally made it… So very boring!
Then there was the ‘mysterious’ killer, and the way they tried to discover him… Boring. And the final confrontation… And then they decided to simply burn their cousin at he spot. But they wanted to make it look like an accident, like the hut simply caught fire. Oh, but the furniture managed to escape in time, so it didn’t burn. And no one came to see what was burning. Oh, and did I mention it that I hate it when the hero finds out the heroine is pregnant in a middle of a crowd? It could be one of the sweetest moments of the book, but the opportunity was wasted. But that is all this book is – a wasted opportunity!
2 Stars So Glad I Didn’t Buy It
This is the second Stephanie Laurens book I’ve read and it will definitely be my last. I borrowed it because it reviewed so highly, but was disgusted at the end of 30 pages. Like several other reviewers I was incredulous that Devil was planning his marriage to a woman he had just met as his dying young cousin lay steps away. Predictable plot, uninteresting characters with stupid names, and many historical inaccuracies. It was a chore to finish.
5 Stars Naughty and just postively a wonderful read!
I don’t remember what made me decide to select this series to read, someone mentioned it on PBS I think. So in true me style. I collected all 15 books published in the Cynster series, before reading the first one. And I can say another GREAT choice of mine. This book is wonderfully written. Taking you through a colorful mystery of a family murder, as well as throwing that lovely Regency romance at you. Honoria is a wonderfully strong minded, stubborn female. And she’s put up against the Duke of St Ives Devil Cynster. And what a DEVIL he truly is. He will set any ladies spine a tingling. If you like romance, and you like action. Give this book a read. You will meet the strong clan of Cynster men, their Women, and help solve a murder Mystery.
5 Stars LOVE those Cynsters and the story, but Honoria – not so much!
Stephanie Laurens is one of a kind. I love the Cynster family and her series on The Bastion Club. I fell in love with Devil immediately and that is the only reason this gets 5 stars instead of 4. While there is much to admire about Honoria’s character and independence, many times I just wanted someone to slap her. Like Olympia Dukaukis’ character slapped Shirley McClain’s character in Steel Magnolias.
Honoria was too independent to the point of being not a believable character. I still love the book, the story and the Cynster family and friends.