I started this series a whole long time ago (back when I was in my early twenties and man are those days long gone). I liked the first book that I read (Devil’s Bride), detested the second book that I read (A Rake’s Vow) and then thought the third book (Scandal’s Bride) was better than both books but it wasn’t good enough to make me want to continue the series.
Now, it’s all these many moons and many Cynster books later and I finally come across a Cynster novel that I actually want to read. This is that book. Check out what the press release says about the novel:
TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER BY STEPHANIE LAURENS On sale 3-3-09Her stories about the glittering world of Regency England have made New York Times’ Bestselling author Stephanie Laurens one of the world’s more beloved and popular authors. In TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER, Lauren’s Fifteenth Cynster Novel, the acclaimed author weaves a sensual, highly emotional tale that questions how much temptation is required to lure a lady to surrender her heart?
TEMPTATION AND SURRENDER (William Morrow/an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers; on-sale 3-3-09; $25.99; ISBN 978-0-06-124340-0), the newest hardcover original from New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens, tells a love story, centering around handsome, wealthy, and well-born Jonas Tallent. Tallent has everything a gentleman needs to enjoy London society to the fullest- and he has. He’s played cards until dawn, flirted with eligible young ladies, and made love to some ineligible ones.
But now he’s restless, bored with the mindless frivolity and careless pleasure, so it’s with a sense of relief that he takes up the reins of his family’s estate in rural Devon. His most pressing need is to hire a new manager for the inn–the center of village life. Such a small task, yet he discovers few decent applicants are willing to live in a quiet country backwater.
Then genteel but impoverished Miss Emily Beauregard applies for the position. Jonas’s initial response is an emphatic “no!” Ladies, especially one as attractive as Emily, belong in the ballroom or the bedroom, not running an inn. But with no alternatives, he grudgingly allows Emily to try, and she rapidly proves herself worthy, resurrecting the inn with tact and skill.
But Em has a secret. It’s not only the need to provide for herself and her orphaned siblings that has brought her to Devon. She’s surreptitiously searching for a family treasure hidden in the village, the only clues to its location a cryptic rhyme handed down through the generations. Emily is determined to solve the puzzle, find the treasure and reinstate her family to its rightful place in society.
Yet Em hasn’t bargained on Jonas. His experience is temptation, his attentions irresistible, and he’s determined to aid her in her quest. He eventually persuades her to trust him, and together they unravel the clues. But someone else is watching, waiting and once the family legacy is unearthed, the villain strikes, threatening Emily, her family, and the love she and Jonas have discovered in each other’s arms.
I started this book already and so far, it’s pretty good. I’ll have my review ready before the book comes out so you guys can see how I ended up liking it. But what I want to know…is there anyone out there who’s read all 14 of the previous Cynster novels? Can you tell me if I’m missing anything? Did the series pick up and get better over the course of the series or not?
I’m very interested to know more about this series (without actually having to read all the books in between).
Anyway, is anyone planning on reading this book? I’d love to have someone to discuss it with afterward…thanks!
This book is available from William Marrow. You can pre-order it here.
I’ve only read An Ideal Bride, which I believe is the eleventh book. It was an above-average read and I did enjoy it, but it didn’t leave me hungry for more. Nice, but forgettable. I’ve heard that description from lots of SL fans. It seems her books are comfort reads to many, and I understand them to be fairly hit-or-miss. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone call her books “Must read!” or “Amazing!”
I’m curious to hear what other readers consider to be the “hits” of this series. I’d be willing to give some of them a try.
Great post, Rowena!
This one is worth the read! I got a proof to read at conference (one of the good things, that happened after getting sick there :). I’d stopped buying these, but this one I liked. Part of the story line is a little corny, but you really feel for the characters.
I gave up on the Cynsters books and books ago. Sorry.
Even though this sounds good, I probably won’t even pick it up. I think my love affair with Stephanie Laurens is over. Shame that.
I’ve read some of the Cynster books, though not all and not in order. Quite a few don’t actually involve any Cynsters at all, just their friends. I have read most or maybe all of the spy ones (can’t think of what she calls that series – oh wait – Bastion?).
They’ve all been pretty good, but I can’t read them too often because they tend to be a bit samey. “Nice, but forgettable” as JenB said about “Ideal Bride” – which is one I don’t think I have read, though maybe i have because…. well, there’s that same-ness.
Hi, Rowena!
I have read all the Cynster books, though I am not invested enough to get the hardcovers, so I’m usually rather late with the latest.
There have been good and not-so-good installments, with the ocassional “oh man, ugh” thrown in. But when a series is based on one family and then stretched for fifteen novels, I think that is par de course, no?
Interestingly enough, some of my favorites are those dealing with peripheral characters and not actual Cynsters 😀