Rating: 
Summary: The best of the Bar Cynster series
Review: As others have mentioned, the story was a bit weird with the whole Lady of the Veil (Vale??) thing but it's extremely well written and has the best erotic scenes of the series. This author really wowed me when I read this book but like many others who write rich, full novels only to churn out one cookie cutter after another upon success, I found some of her subsequent works to be void of richness and detail, and thus not as enjoyable. Still, Stephanie Laurens is a talented writer and I'll continue to buy her books, though with less enthusiasm each time.
Rating: 
Summary: A Tad Strange
Review: While a devoted fan of Ms. Laurens, this book left me cold. It was a little bit too "out there" for me--I'm probably too conservative for "the lady" story line. It just didn't interest me and I had difficulty finishing it. I think that I missed the London season too; the setting was pretty isolated. I certainly enjoyed the preceding and following Cynster series books!
Rating: 
Summary: Oh Lord - please give me a Cynster for my very own!!!
Review: Stephanie Laurens is truly an incomparable author of lusty romance and vibrant characters. This is the third Cynster story, devoted to Richard Cynster and his pursuit of the fiery Catriona Hennesey. We are lured into a tale of passion, magic and age-old lore, filled with wonderful characters, interesting stories and settings, and overlying all an amazing romance between the two protagonists. Richard is everything a woman could possibly desire, and Catriona is a strong-willed woman who will find a way to achieve her goals no matter what the cost. I loved this book (yes the sensuality level is "R" on this one) and have reread it several times. The Cynster saga is almost perfect - start with "Devil's Bride" if you have not yet discovered them!!
Rating: 
Summary: Boring
Review: I felt that this particular book did not go anywhere. I kept waiting for something to happen to liven the book up. However, if you just like to read about sex then this is the book for you but as for me, I had a hard time getting into the characters of this book.
Rating:
Summary: Another dose of the delicious Cynsters!
Review: The weather seems to conspire against Cynsters, helping Fate lead them to the altar. In this third installment, it is Richard "Scandal" Cynster Fate has in her sights. Richard, the illegitimate younger brother of Devil, has journeyed to the Scottish highlands to receive a long-delayed bequest from his deceased birth mother. On his way to McEnery House, he is forced to stop the night at an inn due to inclement weather. The inn is in the town in which his mother is buried, and he wanders to the cemetery that night to visit her grave.Catriona Hennessy, Lady of the Vale, has been called from the lowlands to the reading of her guardian's will at McEnery House. Inclement weather forces her and her companion to break their journey at an inn in the nearest town (funny coincidence, that!). In her role as Lady of the Vale, Catriona is a channel of sorts for the wishes of The Lady and the guardian of the vale where The Lady is worshipped. Lately, she has been having very vivid dreams of a commanding, handsome, and restless knight. She decides she must go consult The Lady outside to discern her wishes. The answer is disturbing: "He will father your children." On her way back to the inn, she is so busy pondering the meaning of this message, that she slips on the ice - and is caught by none other than Richard, the knight in her dreams. Both Richard and Catriona are even more surprised to discover each other's presence at McEnery House, and even more shocked when Seamus McEnery's will is read. Richard has a week to marry Catriona or all McEnery's lands and wealth will go to the church, leaving the principal heirs to the estate destitute. While Richard is debating, Catriona, who does not wish to marry and lose power in the vale, takes matters into her own hands and attempts to fulfill The Lady's wishes to the letter, rather than consider the underlying meaning. She realizes she's in a real mess when Richard says "yes" to the terms of the will. Laurens has created the finest example of lovers at cross-purposes in SCANDAL'S BRIDE. The fight for Richard to find a cause and for Catriona to understand that falling in love and getting married does not automatically mean losing individuality is great fun to read about. Richard is a perfect example of the family spirit embodied in the Cynsters. Catriona is terrific in her single-mindedness and generosity - not to mention her bravery, since (as Honoria pointed out) no other woman would be brave enough to slip an aphrodisiac to a Cynster and then crawl into bed with him! The only parts of this story I had problems with were the "villain's" fairly weak excuse for villainy, and Richard's nickname in the Bar Cynster. It is explained that "Scandal" is short for "A Scandal That Never Was" since Devil's mother adopted Richard as her own, thus reducing any scandal of his existence in the Cynster fold. But it is well-known that Richard is a bastard and not in line for the dukedom, so I fail to see how scandal was avoided, apart from preventing Richard from being ostracized by the ton. Maybe this reasoning was Laurens' aim, but I think she's reaching a bit. Nevertheless, SCANDAL'S BRIDE most excellently fulfilled my "Cynster fix," and I recommend it to all Cynster fans. First-time Cynster readers should start with DEVIL'S BRIDE, but by all means, don't miss this third gem in the Cynster saga.
Rating:
Summary: Bewitching Romance...
Review: This was wonderfully written. I liked the witchy aspect. It was a nice break from the usual conflicts. And as always Stphanie's love scenes are never rushed, prefectly timed, and eloquently written. You really begin to see what makes Richard tick and what makes him a Cynster, but what also makes him differnt. He was calm (at least he appears to be but we all know better) cool and ever so confident. Catriona had many levels, many shades to her personality. And of course as always you want to smack them and wake them up. I also liked the idea that a higher power had hand in it from the beginning. That they truely where meant to be together. Pick this book.
Rating: 
Summary: O.K., but not the best in the series
Review: The Secret Love was my first in the Bar Cynster series; in some ways it's my favorite, although I really liked Devil's Bride and the Rogues Vow. I liked the characters in Scandal's Bride, but the emphasis on Catriona's worship of the Lady, with no real objection from apparently Christian Richard bothered me quite a bit. The religion was glamorized and and I found it quite unbelievable. Also for two people who are seemingly required to spend their lives together by divine intervention and compatibility, they can't seem to hold a conversation and really communicate their feelings or desires, which I also found a little far fetched.
Rating:
Summary: Had great potential and lived up to it!
Review: This was my first Stephanie Laurens book and I was happily surprised. I heard a lot about the Cynster series and I wanted to try one for myself. _Scandal's Bride_ just jumped off the shelf at me so I decided to give it a go. Although it was not my favorite book in the whole world, I was interested in the plot and there was enough substance to the book to hold my attention. Both Richard and Catriona were very well developed characters. I will admit that in the begining of the book they were in the bedroom so much that they didn't have much substance other then that. But, the second half of the book really saved it. The sex scenes in this book, I think, are one of the main reasons for all of it's controversy. Some people will love all of the steamy scenes, and for a while I did to. But, the whole first half of the book is nothing but love scenes and after a while they got a little tiring. The first scene took eleven pages to execute. And the creativity of these characters... they made love EVERYWHERE. On a horse, in a feeding trough, in a closet... every place you could imagine. But, Stephanie Laurens seemed to decide that enough was enough and moved on to the more interesting parts of the book. I especially enjoyed the visit from the Cynster clan. Stephanie Laurens has an amzing talent for writing and it shows in her books. I have one little thing though- there were too many story lines. She never really followed through with most of them and there were many things left hanging. But, I really did enjoy this book. I could relate to Catriona and Richard and I spent at least half of my day with them reading their story. I'd recommend _Scandal's Bride_ to you and I can't wait to read more in the series.
Rating:
Summary: A Pleasure to Read
Review: The Bar Cynsters strike again. This was a very enjoyable book in the series. I like the fact that these two were really soul mates looking for the same thing (each other). Laurens is a joy to read. Read any book by this author.
Rating:
Summary: could use a little more depth
Review: well, it was OK, and at least the heroine had some independence. but it was still pretty formulaic. and, now that there are 4 cynster books, i think the heroes could perhaps not be all exactly alike except for their names?? There was some effort here at character development, but there could be a lot more. also, all the stuff about the "lady" just didn't ring true. If it's going to be there, it should have more attention paid to it. in short, i thought a lot more could have been done with the idea, although i still think it's better than most romances today. but i would still rather reread laurie mcbain, or even better "bride of the machugh" or even jude devereux' scotland book, which was much more fun.
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