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The Promise in a Kiss (Cynster Novels) by Stephanie Laurens
Book Summary InformationAuthor: Stephanie Laurens Edition: Mass Market Paperback Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published) Published: 2002-11-05 ISBN: 0061031755 Number of pages: 400 Publisher: Avon
Book Reviews of The Promise in a Kiss (Cynster Novels)Book Review: Oh, Please Grow Up Already!! Summary: 5 Stars
Oh, please grow up already people! I really can not believe all the negative drivel being written about this book. My quarrel with Ms. Laurens is that she didn't take time to flesh out the relationship between Sebastian and Scandal's Mom. I find it entirely believable that Sebastian had an "affair" which produced an offspring. Sebastian as devoted as he was to Helena, was still a product of his times. As was Helena. My wonder has been that in all the other books in the series - with the exception of a really very timid effort in a "Rogue's Proposal" with Harry - there is really no mention of mistresses or lovers and the inevitable dynamics of these very desirable men deciding to be with only their wives. No other off-springs from all the "partying" done before they got married yet as soon as they did get married they were producing like rabbits. Gabriel is my favorite Cynster but Sebastian as portrayed in this prequel runs a close second along with his son, Devil. My other quarrel with Ms. Laurens is, I need to know how Sebastian died. I am sad that he had to die so young especially since his brothers are all still alive and of course Lady Osbaldestone who seemed to have lived forever (love her). And I also feel a bit cheated that there is no recorded interaction between Devil and his Dad. I enjoyed the book immensely and would definitely recommend it. Truth be told, I am in a state of depression right now as I have read every single book in the Cynster and Bastion Club Series and cannot seem to get too interested in any other writer right now. I am in love with these (Cynster) guys and can't get enough of them. Don't get me wrong, I do have some criticisms of Ms Laurens writing! My biggest pet peeve being that there doesn't seem to be enough attention paid to personal hygiene after all those intensive bouts of lovemaking. Everyone who writes about that period will mention that after such activities - especially after the first time ever - you need to freshen up a bit (if you know what I mean). And especially too (or maybe even) because Ms. Laurens is so detailed (which I absolutely love) in other areas. My other pet peeve is her over-use of some words. I literally screamed after reading the word "witchy" in Scandal's Bride for the thousandth time. But I love her work and cannot wait to read more from her.
So go ahead and fall in love with this devastatingly appealing first Cynster and then get to know the others. I love them all and so will you...
Summary of The Promise in a Kiss (Cynster Novels) What would you do if you were kissed by the most handsome stranger you'd ever seen? And what if that man was a Cynster? Every girl?even convent-educated ones?dreams of forbidden kisses. So when a man literally falls at Helena's feet as she's walking through the courtyard one moonlit Christmas Eve, the pretty, young comtesse d'Lisle knows he's up to no good. He's clearly a bit dangerous... and obviously caught in the middle of a clandestine rendezvous. Why else would he have risked his neck and jumped out of a window into the snow? It's wrong, it's outlandish . . . and it's the most utterly romantic gesture she's ever seen. So when the good sisters rush up, demanding to know ifshe has seen a man on the grounds, Helena ignores the years of strict upbringing that insist she reveal his presence. To lie would be a sin, but 'no one can be good all the time. As a reward for her silence, the stranger takes her in his arms and enticingly, unforgettably kisses her?and then departs, leaving a lingering if unspoken promise of all that might be, should fate decree that they meet again. Although Helena doesn't know it, her wild Englishman is Sebastian Cynster, Duke of St. Ives, a nobleman who will prove to be her destiny. Seven years later, Helena has been transformed from a pretty schoolgirl to an aristocratic beauty. Her sparkling wit has made her sought after by London's hostesses; her considerable dowry has made winning her hand the aim of many a gentleman . . . but she is deadeningly aware of how boring so many ofthese gentlemen are. Her manipulative guardian has unexpectedly allowed her to find a husband of her own choosing, and she has no intention of marrying any man who tries to tame her. There must be someone perfect for her . . . someone who can live up to the promise ofthat long-ago kiss. Then, at a ball, fate strikes. Once again, it is the Christmas season, and across the crowded room Helena stands transfixed . . . for there is the man whose kiss she has never forgotten, the man of her memory whom no other has ever been able to supplant. Her wild, mysterious Englishman, Sebastian Cynster, Duke of St. Ives. One look, and he's determined to reclaim her . . . . One unforgettable night, Sebastian, the Duke of St. Ives, stole a kiss from a beautiful young woman at a French convent. They didn't share their names but neither of them ever forgot the magic of that innocent kiss, and when they meet again in London seven years later, each instantly recognizes the other. Helena, the Comtesse d'Lisle, is searching for a manageable husband to thwart her controlling guardian, and Sebastian, a London rake who has sworn never to wed, is clearly not an appropriately biddable candidate. The lovely French comtesse is the one woman who can change Sebastian's view of marriage, but convincing Helena is a task that challenges even the powerful Duke of St. Ives. While Sebastian is courting and seducing the reluctantly tempted Helena, her powerful guardian sets in motion a scheme that threatens the happiness of the lovers and endangers their lives. In this tale of the passionate couple that parented the unforgettable Bar Cynster siblings, author Stephanie Laurens pulls out all the stops with high adventure, dueling swords, intrigue, and sensual romance. Rounding out the novel with witty dialogue, great secondary characters, and detailed descriptions of the London society scene of 1783, Laurens gives readers another Cynster novel they're sure to love. --Lois Faye Dyer
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