Four in Hand

Rating:
Summary: Is this really a book by Stephanie Laurens?
Review: I am a big fan of Stephanie Laurens. I couln't like more the Cynster's series, so when I finished with it, I set out to purchase more books by her. But this one was a BIG DISSAPOINTMENT.
It didn't even seem a book written by her. If I had read it, without knowing the author, never in a million years I would have guessed Laurens wrote this book. It is so different to the Cynster series!
The story is completely boring, I would get desperate reading page after page where nothing interesting happened and wondered to my self, when are we getting to the good part? The good part never came.
In general, I think the book is too PG rated, maybe appropiate for a 13 year old, but not suitable for adults.
My advice is if you liked the Cynsters series, do not under any circumstance buy this book. It will bore you out of your senses.
By the way, "Rogue's Reform", a collection of 3 other novels also by Laurens is not much better. I just read the first one and can not bring my self to read the other two.

Rating:
Summary: Very unsatisfying.
Review: I beg of the author: Please do not EVER AGAIN write a book with EIGHT leading characters, and four "romances." Any author with even a lick of sense would have known she could not do justice to any of the subplots. Don't get me wrong: I think it was a nifty idea to use the plot device of a Duke assigned the task of marrying off four precocious wards. And I really liked the fact that, unlike most historical romance heroines, the four sisters were very sophisticated and had impressive feminine wiles. But I think it would have been much more interesting to only cover Max and Caroline's story in this book, then give each of the other girls their own book. Instead, we get this mishmash. According to the cover, the story was about Max and Caroline, yet they were rarely featured together in the book. None of the couples ever spent time getting to know each other; they were just instantly attracted to one another, and apparently that was enough for them to know they wanted to be together forever. I actually found Sarah's and Darcy's story the most compelling, probably because it was covered in the most detail. On top of that, the author threw in the silly subplot of the girls trying to get Amanda and Ralph together, for no apparent reason. I wound up skimming the last half of the book. Don't waste your money or time on this one. This is my second Stephanie Laurens book, and I also found the last one unsatisfying. Not sure I'm going to bother reading this author again.

Rating:
Summary: Very unsatisfying.
Review: I beg of the author: Please do not EVER AGAIN write a book with EIGHT leading characters, and four "romances." Any author with even a lick of sense would have known she could not do justice to any of the subplots. Don't get me wrong: I think it was a nifty idea to use the plot device of a Duke assigned the task of marrying off four precocious wards. And I really liked the fact that, unlike most historical romance heroines, the four sisters were very sophisticated and had impressive feminine wiles. But I think it would have been much more interesting to only cover Max and Caroline's story in this book, then give each of the other girls their own book. Instead, we get this mishmash. According to the cover, the story was about Max and Caroline, yet they were rarely featured together in the book. None of the couples ever spent time getting to know each other; they were just instantly attracted to one another, and apparently that was enough for them to know they wanted to be together forever. I actually found Sarah's and Darcy's story the most compelling, probably because it was covered in the most detail. On top of that, the author threw in the silly subplot of the girls trying to get Amanda and Ralph together, for no apparent reason. I wound up skimming the last half of the book. Don't waste your money or time on this one. This is my second Stephanie Laurens book, and I also found the last one unsatisfying. Not sure I'm going to bother reading this author again.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: I feel compelled to say that anyone who thought that this book was bad is wrong. I read it after having read many other books by Stephanie Laurens and just because it doesn't have seventeen sizzling sex scenes does not mean that this wasn't a good book. I think it might have even made this book better because I tire of having heroes and heroines make love all the time and then decide they love each other. In this one the book has to stand without the sex and it does so very well. Anybody who says this book is a bore is wrong. With funny dialougue and heartwrenching scenes this one is a keeper. It is light hearted a funny and makes you really wish that everyone would just realize that they loved each other so they can get on to the happy ending. I loved the idea of having more then one plot. It stoped you from getting tired of the plot and it took away all the dragging on of do I tell him I love him or do I not. Do I love him or do I not. I mean who is ever unsure of whether or not they love someone. This book eliminates all of this and it is very very good.

Rating:
Summary: I couldn't put it down
Review: I feel compelled to say that anyone who thought that this book was bad is wrong. I read it after having read many other books by Stephanie Laurens and just because it doesn't have seventeen sizzling sex scenes does not mean that this wasn't a good book. I think it might have even made this book better because I tire of having heroes and heroines make love all the time and then decide they love each other. In this one the book has to stand without the sex and it does so very well. Anybody who says this book is a bore is wrong. With funny dialougue and heartwrenching scenes this one is a keeper. It is light hearted a funny and makes you really wish that everyone would just realize that they loved each other so they can get on to the happy ending. I loved the idea of having more then one plot. It stoped you from getting tired of the plot and it took away all the dragging on of do I tell him I love him or do I not. Do I love him or do I not. I mean who is ever unsure of whether or not they love someone. This book eliminates all of this and it is very very good.

Rating:
Summary: Boring
Review: I got this book a the supermarket cause I did not have anything to read for the weekend. Wished I had left it there. I thought it would be like Stephanie's other books. Unfortunately not. Like the other review - way too many characters, not sure if there was a hero/heroine really couldn't figure that out. It took me a lot longer than a weekend to finish it. Did not keep me spellbound and I hate to give this a 1 star, but it was truly not a good story. Next time an idea like this pops up - write 4 different stories for each hero/heroine in 1 book. I will still read other books by Stephanie, but will definitely watch for reviews though.

Rating:
Summary: Couldn't Put It Down!
Review: I was hooked from the first page and couldn't put this one down. And I absolutely loved the Caroline Twinning character! A great summer read! ...

Rating:
Summary: wonderful light, happy romance
Review: I was really surprised at some of the negatives reviews because I absolutely loved this book! This was my first Stephanie Laurens book and it left me wanting more of the same. No, it didn't have heavy sex scenes-because it didn't need it! She kept just the right mix of inunendo, bringing things just to the edge without becoming graphic. It was a freshing change from some stories where it seems like the story is shoved aside to see how many times an author can destribe a couple making love in minute detail. There were really four love stories going on and each character was likable and engaging. The rakes acted like rakes and the characters seemed to like each other from the start-something I like in a romance. This is the perfect book to read on a bad day when you need a lift, a light happy romance that will leave you sighing happily at the end.

Rating:
Summary: A Delightful Regency that should not be missed
Review: If you are looking for a light Regency romp and an enjoyable romance, you have got it in this book. A young man suddenly found himself not only the inheritor of a noble title with all its wealth and prestige but also the guardianship of four beautiful young ladies. The Marquis of Rotherbridge found himself in the strange position of a fox trying to guard the hens. The rakish Marquis was drawn to the eldest of the sisters who was beautiful, voluptuous and alluring and set out to seduce her but all the time trying to protect the virtue of the other wards from his libertine friends and brother.The efforts at seduction and the episodes are very romantic but not at all explicit and erotic like Laurens' later works e.g. 'Captain Jack's Woman', 'Devil's Bride' but are actually much more enjoyable. I would have liked to give it 5 stars except that I was a bit dissatisfied with the ending which was rushed and made to look contrived and abrupt. The writer made the four sisters succumb to their seducers on the same day and without the presence of a chaperon or abigail which was highly improbable if not impossible. But for this flaw, the story is perfect! I heartily recommend this book.

Rating:
Summary: Know what you're buying....
Review: Just don't confuse this with the Stephanie Laurens books that you're accustomed to reading. This is an earlier book that is Regency in style. She is a competent author no matter what, and some people will prefer this style, others will find it simplistic. And many will be disappointed.

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