Customer Reviews

Devils Bride

5 star:		(70)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(12)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

DEVIL'S BRIDE by Stephanie Laurens

Released in 1998, Devil's Bride is the first novel in the Cynster series of historical romance books by Stephanie Laurens. The most famous and eligible of the Cynster males, Sylvester 'Devil' Cynster meets his match in Honoria Wetherby, a finishing governess and a woman who would fit well in the 21st century.

Honoria Wetherby has been hired, to prepare the young daughter of a wealthy couple, for her coming out. But when she happens upon a bleeding and dying man alongside the road, Honoria isn't one to pass by without notice. Giving aid to Tolly Cynster, Honoria is suddenly propelled into the world of the aristocratic rich and famous of the English countryside. When Sylvester, aka Devil Cynster, arrives to help his young cousin, it is then, that he meets the energetic young woman and swears to himself, that Honoria will be his bride.

Never one to step back from a threat or challenge, Honoria places herself in a compromising position to help Devil comfort his dying cousin. But when Tolly succumbs to his gunshot wounds, in the small cabin where they sought refuge, the Cynster males vow to find his killer. But Honoria is placed in a precarious predicament, when it is discovered, that she spent the night in the cabin, un-chaperoned with Devil Cynster, and Devil takes it upon himself, to demand her hand in marriage-to make an honest woman out of her.

Honoria is a very modern woman, for Regency England. Although investigating the death of Devil's cousin, may prove to be exactly what she needs, her freedom is what she demands. But, when Devil announces to the family that he has found his bride, Honoria is whisked into action, helping prepare for the funeral and family mourning period. With the idea in mind, that she will aid the family during their time of grief, Honoria involves herself with the dealings of the Cynster males and their efforts to locate and ferret out Tolly's killer. But, there are unsettling details surrounding the death, that require further investigation and Honoria takes it upon herself, to seek answers to the questions.

As with all romance storylines, Devil and Honoria are sexually and physically attracted to one another. Her physical beauty, as well as her penchant for finding herself in situations, that require her rescue, put Devil on alert. But, someone is trying to kill Devil, and with the help of his cousins, they try to track a killer. When the clues and information, start pointing to a beloved family member, Honoria is caught in a trap,that could very well end all of their lives.

Devil's Bride introduces us to the Cynster family including the Cynster males. Demon, Vane, Gabriel, Lucifer, Scandal and Devil are all members of the Bar-Cynster, a name they had given themselves, as young, pleasure-seeking men. But one quiet and reclusive family member was never involved or accepted into the group, and now, a history of extra-marital affairs and ' brothers, may bring the Cynster family to their knees.

As an introductory book to the series, the Devil's Bride was a wonderful read. Devil and Honoria's relationship is filled with angst, smoldering sex, scandalous behavior and the realization of love. The introduction of the Cynster males, leaves plenty of opportunity to continue the storyline and the romance world of Stephanie Laurens is forever etched in my soul. I found a new romance hero in Sylvester 'Devil' Cynster, a man that I could truly call 'my own!!

[...]

Witty banter, mutual possessiveness, sexual tension, strong-willed heroine and ultra sexy hero, Whats not to love about this.

I've read it numerous times and can never tire of it. The first book in the Bar Cynster Series was brilliant, and although the second was just okay for me I love all the Cynster men. Devil, Vane, Richard, Demon, Gabriel and Lucifer. So far only Devil and Gabriel's story lead my fav list!

But who cares... these will help pass the time all the more faster.

This is the first book in Stephanie Laurens Bar Cynster series, and what a way to begin.

Devil Cynster, the Duke of St. Ives, is the man that dreams are made of: arrogant, handsome, titled and rich. Honoria Wetherby is just a governess, trapped by society when she's caught alone in a cabin with the dashing Duke.

With the murder of one of their family, the Bar Cynster - a group of men that rival the Duke in arrogance and handsomeness - band together to hunt down his killer. Meanwhile, Devil must convince Honoria that wedding him is a better idea that searching for adventure.

This book should not be missed! It's a stunning combination of adventure and love, where you'll sympathize with the heroine and fall in love with the Duke.

To be brief, the plot centers around Honoria Anstruther-Wetherby, a finishing governess of high birth who sets out to help her latest charge, Melissa, snare a duke as husband. It so happens that she gets caught in a storm, finds a murder victim, and meets her future husband - the aforementioned duke who is of no mind to marry Melissa. He forces her to abandon her plans for governessing; she in turn decides to help him and his cousins solve the murder mystery. On the way, they get married and fall in love.

Like many of Laurens' heroines and heroes, Honoria is almost "on the shelf," and of a mind of her own; she's stubborn and strong-willed, though not shrewish. Devil Cynster (the duke) is a rake who's sworn that he'll never fall in love. As a reader, you MUST suspend historical reality to believe that a story like this could ever take place in Regency England. The setting provides a wonderful backdrop - it's elegant, sumptuous, and kind of vapid - but the actions of the characters don't gel with what was historically acceptable.

If you can get past these discrepancies, then it's an entertaining read. I'm not sure that the intimate scenes are very realistic, and they contain a lot of what I consider hyperbolic metaphors. The murder mystery itself is very transparent. Personally I don't think that the characters are very well-developed, but then again, Regency is not part of the established canon. Despite all these shortcomings, I did enjoy this book.

The Cynster series is a wonderful sensual joy to read. This book is my personal favorite of the ten current Cynster & Co. books. It has a gripping mystery and a exciting and powerful hero and a stubborn and powerful heroine. THE IS A MUST READ !
HM

This is my second time reading Stephanie Lauren's. I bought All About Passion, first. I did not know it was a series of books, and after enjoying the story of Chillingsworth, I bought Devil's Bride.
Devils Bride was a great read, usually, I get bored, and cheat and look ahead to see what will happen, but this book totally entertained me that I never once, skimmed ahead.
The sex leaves you breathless, the love is not mushy, and she puts a good story in it, so you will not grow bored. True, you do know who did it from the beginning, but what the hey, it was still entertaining, and a great love story.
Buy a mystery if you want a who dunnit book. I buy these books for the romance... and it is romantic. I loved Devil, and his clan, and I am ready to read the next book.

Four stars, only because half way I got a smidge bored, but it picked up again, and I was happy.

Devil's Bride is the first in Stephanie Laurens' Cynster series. This book focuses on the leader of the Cynster's, Sylvester Sebastian Cynster, better known as Devil to the ton at large.

This is the story of Devil and Honoria, the woman he plans to make his wife, despite her protests, and dealing with a plot against their lives, coming from an unlikely source.

I loved the way the two lead characters interact and the fact that Honoria is determined not to fall beneath Devil's power, and stand's her ground at all times. It's refreshing to see an historical romance, where the heroine isn't 19, stepping into society for the first time, but a fully grown woman who knows what she wants and sets about to get it.

The romance in the story was fantastic, and the love scenes were smoldering. I enjoyed watching love grow between the two, even as they try to fight it.

I believe the Cynster motto is very apt: 'To Have and To Hold'.

This would have to be my all-time favourite book, and I reccommend it to every reader.

Honoria Wetherby, a very exclusive governess, stumbles over a dying man on her way back to her employer's home one stormy evening. Her horse bolts and she's left alone with no way of helping the man... until a tall, dark and handsome stranger arrives. He takes her and the injured man to a cottage, whereupon Honoria discovers that her rescuer is the injured man's cousin, and he introduces himself as Devil.

The following morning, the shooting victim dead, Honoria finds out that 'Devil' is actually Sylvester, the Duke of St Ives. And he discovers that her name is really Anstruther-Wetherby; she's of very good family indeed. Given that he's already attracted to her, the fact that he's compromised her is, from his point of view, very convenient.

But Honoria has other plans. She has no intention of marrying anyone, and especially not an arrogant duke who simply announces his plans for her. And she wants to travel to Africa and explore the continent; a husband doesn't figure in her plans at all. So they seem to be at an impasse... except that Honoria can't seem to help getting sucked into the duke's family, especially given their grief at young Tolly's death. Her skills with young girls come in very useful indeed.

And when everyone in the family, let alone Society in general, assumes that Honoria will marry Devil, how can she fight that? When his kisses heat her blood and make her want more, she realises how attracted to him she is too. So what of her own plans? Can she become Devil's Bride?

This is an enjoyable romp in most respects; however, there are a number of irritating elements which prevent it getting a higher rating. First, those names!! What on earth possessed Laurens to give her heroes names such as Devil, Scandal, Gabriel, Lucifer et al? What's the point? As someone else pointed out, they don't seem to do a lot to deserve them, and anyway it just sounds ridiculous. (Speaking of 'Scandal', incidentally, since I read The Promise In A Kiss before reading this book, I was curious to discover where Sebastian's illegitimate son came from. The story of his arrival - and of Helena's unquestioning, even delighted, acceptance of him - is simply ridiculous and lacks all credibility).

Second, while I know this is Stephanie Laurens and not Jo Beverley or Mary Balogh, the behaviour of her characters as regards sex is not credible either. Sneaking around the house - in London and at Somersham - at night to bed-hop is ludicrous. Okay, Devil doesn't have a valet, but what about Honoria's maid? What about the footmen who may well do night duty? What about other occupants of the house hearing footsteps or other noises? I couldn't suspend credibility for that illicit lovemaking at all.

Third, I don't know where Laurens gets her ideas from about mourning, but deep mourning was for six months, and half-mourning for a further six months after that. There is no way at all that the family would have been preparing for a ball within six weeks of Tolly's death.

Fourth, the murder plot was so transparent even I could figure it out, and I'm no good at all with whodunits. I think I'd worked out the identity of the murder within about 30 pages. So then it got quite boring waiting for the characters to catch up with me - and when Laurens made it clear about 3/4 way through that Devil knew who it was but she kept it from the reader, I was shaking my head. Did she really think that people wouldn't have guessed it? As for the motive, again that was easy.

And fifth, the book really lost momentum after Devil and Honoria married. The only thing to sustain the plot from then on was the identity of the murderer, plus further attempts on Devil's life - that took up close to half the book, which was tedious given that by then the romance element had been wound up. Poor pacing there.

An entertaining light read, but no more than that.

I bought this book because it was reviewed so highly by readers here as the best of Stephanie Laurens' books. I had never read her and if this truly was the best she had to offer, I probably won't again.

First of all, was I the only one who was turned off that Mr "Devil" Cynster was coldly plotting seduction and marriage to Miss Honoria over the still-warm murdered body of his young nephew, to whom he had apparently been close? Where was the grief? Where was the pain, the anxiety, the rage over the nephew's untimely death? Instead there he is sizing up his future bride and plotting her conquest. I'm surprised he made it to the young boy's funeral.

Devil is perhaps the coldest and most selfish hero I have ever read. But even coldness and selfishness can be forgiven if he changes for the better by the end. However, Ms. Laurens seems to have left his behavior at that, as if there were nothing wrong with it, perhaps to suggest how strong and manly and sexy he is. Unfortunately, I thought it showed what a shallow, self-centered and unappealing man he was and frankly, I wanted Honoria to have nothing to do with him. So that ruined the point of the story for me by page 40.

Not to mention, what silly nicknames for the Bar Cynsters: Devil, Vane, Demon, Gabriel, Lucifer, Scandal, especially when none of them come even close to living a lifestyle that would merit such designations. As far as they've been depicted, they're a bunch of noble, upstanding, fair, dedicated men who love their family...so how did the nicknames come about? And how can grown men call each other that without laughing out loud?

Sorry to say, this was a pretentious, ill-concieved and illogical book. The emotions need to make sense for a romance to work. This one didn't.

I have found another author that I will read evrything she writes. I discovered her by accident. I started reading one of the other books in the series and found out very quickly that it was a series and that I had to get them all. I am so glad I did. I found Stephanie's books filled with humor, passion,tendereness, strength and love. I loved how the men are strong and yet vulnerable. The women are independant, fiesty and passionate. Both the men and the women could stand alone but together they are a complete person.

This is the first in the series of the Bar Cynster family. Its the story of Devil Cynster, the head of the family. He is the 6th Duke of St.Ives. He meets the woman who will turn his life upside down, Honoria Wetherby, at the scene of a tragic accident. She has stumbled across the dying cousin of Devil. Devil knows its no accident but with Honoria's help he tends the boy until he passes. Honoria and Devil are found the next day alone in the cabin they took shelter in from a storm. Honoria is compromised and Devil decides to marry her. Now Honoria has no plans to ever get married. She wants to have travel and have new experiences and excitements. She soon finds all the excitement she can take. She is drawn into the Cynster family and soon into Devil's arms. He awakens a deep passion in her and she finally agrees to marry him.

Now the Devil and his cousin's must find out who killed thier cousin and why. Honoria refuses to be left out and Devil must learn that she is more than just a pretty face and lovely body. The discussions between the two are humorous and you can almost see their expressions of anger and then happiness and love.

I enjoyed this book thouroughly and plan to read it again and again.