Rating: 
Summary: Disappointing
Review: Based on the lavish reviews I read here and a strong recommendation from my mother, I was thoroughly anticipating a can't-put-it-down, singe-your-eyebrows-with-its-sensuality romance. Sadly, after the first chapter, I quickly became disenchanted with Laurens' tale-telling ability. First, the murder mystery, on which the plot so heavily depends, is the most elementaryish attempt at suspense I have ever encountered. Second, the heroine (Honoria) wants so desperately to visit Africa that she has suffered through years of work as a finishing governess before she can realize her dream. Yet, within a few months after meeting Devil, he convinces her of the stupidity of her dream. Why in the world did Devil not offer to visit Africa with Honoria? Instead, he arrogantly demands that Honoria stay at home, have babies and, tend to household matters. When she finally capitualtes, I threw the book down in vexation! My most glaring problem with the novel lies in the lack of unique characterization. I became so sick of Honoria's constant sewing and Devil's over-the-top alpha maleness. Yes, I want strong characters, but not one-dimensional ones. My final complaint about the novel centers on the purple prose of the love scenes. I don't know about other people's sexual experiences, but I found "sunburst's fire" and "incandescent glory" much too heavy handed a description.
Rating: 
Summary: Not one to miss
Review: My first book by Stephanie Laurens, quite a suprise. A delightful orginal story. Devil and Honoria were great together and the other charaters added to the books attractions. Being a fan of Lindsey, Deveraux and Kane I have found it hard to find authors that match them. But this book made my list to keep and reread. Not many do that, not even the rest of her Cynster Series. I will differently read more of her books.
Rating:
Summary: It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!!!
Review: It is very difficult to write a comment about a perfect book - and this is it! "Devil's Bride" has everything a romance should have - an amazing hero, the ideal heroine, a great plot, wonderful settings, and delightful secondary characters. If there was a romance how-to-textbook, this would be the entire section on historicals! Devil Cynster and Honoria Anstruther-Wetherby are the perfect foils - Devil's arrogance and dominating habits clash wonderfully with Honoria's sense of honor and independence. When the seduction is finally completed, they discover a world of sensuality that tosses them (and the reader) into a maelstrom of passion, excitingly well written, and eminently believable. It is so easy to lose oneself in the world of the Cynsters - how wonderful that there are so many of them and they all have their own story!! Bravo Ms. Laurens - nobody does it better!!!
Rating:
Summary: The perfect regency romance!
Review: This first novel in the Bar Cynster series is a tour de force for Stephanie Laurens. Devil Cynster, the Duke of St. Ives, is a great regency romance hero - aristocratic, extremely masculine, very sexy. He's made up his mind that Honoria Prudence is the wife for him, and he doggedly sets out to win her. Honor is a refreshing change from most regency heroines. She's sophisticated, not spunky; commanding, not wilfull; elegant, not dainty. It's easy to see why Devil (yes, the names of the Bar Cynster cousins are silly - do your best to ignore it) is so determined to have her as his duchess. Their courtship is wonderful - lots of tension and steamy love scenes. Even better, we get to see their relationship mature after their marriage. I'll be reading this one again and again!
Rating: 
Summary: MY FIRST IN THE SERIES, AND SURELY NOT THE LAST!
Review: I started reading Stephanie Laurens's books because the reviews were, most often than not, praising her writing skills as well as her stories. Once again, the vast majority of fellow readers had it right, at least for me. In "Devil's Bride", the first of the Cynster Family series, we are introduced to this exiting and awing clan. Concentrating on Sylvester, Duke of St. Ives, although more commonly known and regarded as Devil, the head of the Bar Sinister, and Honoria Prudence Anstruther-Wetherby (spinster and finishing governess by her own will) the reader is instantly submerged on the adventures of this would be couple. Thrown together by Fate on a quest to find his cousin's murderer, Devil knows from the start that beneath her calm and controlled exterior, proper Honoria is unconsciously waiting for someone to awaken her womanly senses. Never the one to leave a challenge unanswered, Devil decides he will not only have her, but she will have him as well, as her husband. After all, the Cynster family motto is "To Have and To Hold", and Honoria would certainly prove to be a nice wifely addition to his life. The trouble is to convince her of the logic and sound reasoning of his plan. For her part, Honoria certainly enjoys the kisses she receives, as well as be profoundly shaken by his mere electrifying touch, but is she ready to risk her heart and soul, to give herself completely to the very Devil? The fun part develops in the story as the answer to all your questions unfolds. The writing is clear and sharp, the characters are very witty and unexpected in their modernly actions, so much that good humored laughter becomes a part of the readers reactions to this entertaining tale. And of course, there is the sexy romance and their silent battle to conquer. The only BUT I could find is that for many pages no sensual or romantic encounter ensues between the characters, but reached a certain point it seems as if the writer wanted to make up for that and suddenly we get love scenes, tons of them. Too much way too close, for me. That is the only reason I am not giving it a straight 5 stars. Anyhow, the icing on the cake are Devil's five very manly and charming cousins (with nicknames as alluring as Scandal, Vane, Demon, Gabriel and Lucifer) whom act as secondary characters. What more could the reader want? Perhaps a continuation of the enjoyment this book will surely give you? Never fret, as I said before this book is the first in the series, and the stories of these other gentleman are already in print. I, for one, am rushing to buy them, probably overnight deliver as well!
Rating:
Summary: Devil's Bride
Review: This has to be one the best regency book I've every read. Stephanie Laurens description of Devil is so memorable. I think I'll always think of him as my dream man. The story was great, I think I read it in two days. Reading it made one live it. It was funny, romanic,sad and then to top it off a who done it.
Rating:
Summary: Great characters, good mystery!
Review: ...Honoria and Devil are a perfect couple. The mystery wasn't difficult to figure out but that was a small part of the story. I loved his attitude everytime she mentioned Africa. I am now on book #4 and love Demon as much as Vane, Scandal, Devil. Everything she writes is great and like one other reader, I will buy anything with Stephanie's name on it. I highly recommend them to anyone who hasn't discovered her yet.
Rating:
Summary: The start of an addicting series
Review: DEVIL'S BRIDE is the first installment in Stephanie Laurens' Bar Cynster series, witty and passionate tales of mesmerizing and powerfully attractive Regency-era rakes. The Bar Cynster are six cousins who cut a swath through the ton and are "cursed" with the peculiar affliction of marrying solely for love. Their various journeys into love prove the expression "reformed rakes make the best husbands." In this first chapter of the Cynster saga, we meet Sylvester Sebastian Cynster, more commonly known as Devil, the Duke of St. Ives. Devil has no idea what Fate has in store for him when he rides the wooded bridle paths of his estate. In the woods, he meets Honoria Anstruther-Wetherby - crouched over his dying younger cousin, Tolly. Devil and Honoria manage to get Tolly to the gamekeeper's cottage, where he dies, unable to tell them the identity of his killer. A storm forces Devil and Honoria to pass the night in the cottage, where they are discovered the next day by various Cynster connections and Honoria's current employers. For propriety's sake, Devil immediate takes over and claims he will marry Honoria. But our heroine is a headstrong miss, an heiress who prefers to work as a governess of sorts, who will not bow to the dictates of such an autocratic decree, particularly when she has no intention of marrying - but every intention of solving the mystery of Tolly's murder. Watching Devil and Honoria duke it out (no pun intended) in a battle of wills and of the sexes is extremely entertaining, and pretty much makes up for the fact that the mystery itself is fairly transparent and obvious. How they couldn't figure it out immediately is beyond me, but what is important are the changes these two strong-willed and stubborn protagonists make in each other. Devil learns that not everything can be his at the drop of a hat, that some things are worth working for, and that women (and by extension, wives) are not just for decoration and begetting heirs. Honoria learns that love can conquer irrational fears and makes some risks completely worthwhile. The banter between the two - Devil dictating and Honoria scoffing in his face - as well as their ultimate surrender to each other make DEVIL'S BRIDE a worthy read. Laurens has the elements of romance firmly in place in DEVIL'S BRIDE; if she works on the mystery aspect in future Cynster tales, this series will become even better. Nonetheless, I'd recommend this series to any historical romance fan.
Rating:
Summary: The Romance is Hot, but the Mystery--Not!
Review: A friend told me to read this book, just so I could get as addicted to the series as she is, so this is the only one I've read. It's a good, fast read, and I managed it in less than 2 days. Not bad when you factor in a full-time job and husband and two children. I love family stories, where you meet a number of characters and know that you're going to be reading about them in books to come. And I will admit that the Cynster boys appear to be prime subjects. And yes, the love scenes--well, let's just say that I didn't need the electric blanket to stay warm! But halfway through the book I had come to this conclusion: unless Ms. Laurens is more of a red-herring master than Agatha Christie, I had spotted the culprit within a page of being introduced to him. Alas, Madame Christie's crown is safe, and all I could think of was how I'd like to knock the characters' heads together as they fumbled around putting themselves in jeopardy. So...if you buy this book, buy it for the colorful characters and the steamy bedroom scenes. Shop elsewhere for a mystery.
Rating:
Summary: A very good book
Review: I do not read Regency era novels as a rule... I gave them up. This one is different. Not only does Ms. Laurens excell at atmosphere..she adds steam, great characters and by Regency standards a decent plot. I really enjoyed this book. The female lead is very strong, I like that . How many of you are bored with the 17 year old virgin plot? This is a mature romance (although the female lead is still a virgin) The dialog is smart. And yes you will hear the word NO many times when the answer is really ..YES! YES! This is my first Stephanie Laurens I will go GLOM the rest now.
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