Another fantastic Dangerous Cynster.
Scandal's Bride is the third installment of the Cynster series by Stephanie Laurens, and by no means are these strong, handsome virile men getting tiring. On the contrary this new story brings us into the light of the Cynster we met on the very last pages of the Second book A Rake's Vow, Scandal like Vane before him said he would not bow to fate, he would escape her he would not marry.
Well, as we have learned by now that's what they all say. Devil the most Alpha of the Cynster's fell first, and than Vane, and now its Scandals turn, so named because he was the Scandal that never was. Handsome black haired blue eyed Richard Cynster is officially an illegitimate second son of Sylvester Cynster Duke of St. Ives (may he rest in peace) and Devil's younger brother. But when Richards Scottish mother died, he was sent to live with the Cynster's, the than Duchess now Dowager Duchess Helena scooped him up and proclaimed him her son. No one, not the ton not anyone dared say anything to dispute it. And so there was Scandal.
Now the man his mother was married to has passed away and it is finally time to claim the necklace that was left to him by his Mother. But the will holds a surprise, Richard is supposed to marry the hoity, hot headed, stubborn, Miss Catronia Hennessey or Seamus deems his estate will not pass to his family but onto the church.
This book really has to be my favorite of the Cynster's thus far, the premise and the assumption that Richard will simply turn his back on everyone is fantastic. He of course is a Cynster to have and to hold, and they cherish family. And he knew from the moment he kissed Miss Catronia in the graveyard before knowing who she was, he would have her. She of course resists, but he is a Cynster. And her Lady has decreed he will be the father of your children.
This book delves into their personal relationship, growing to trust one another and love one another. And not only that but to admit that love. Who can't take a look at their own life through those glasses? They learn that there is more to them than just their very hot physical selves. There are of course a few turns and twists thrown in for good measure but this book truly does focus on them. And when the Cynster family descends we get to see Devil and Honoria and Vane and Patience once again, which to me is always pleasant when you check in with characters you grew to love in a previous book. So if you ask me Stephanie Laurens has done it again, read it and love it!
Don't bother reading if you can only accept "mainstream" religious beliefs.
I can't believe how many negative reviews that I've read that focus on the "magic" and "crazies", etc. (disgustingly likening it to a "cult"), of this book. If you think that christianity is the only religion that's acceptable to read about, then don't bother with this one! If you're like me, however, and enjoy reading about different beliefs and those who are accepting of them, then you should be able to enjoy this story. Just to clarify: this is NOT a "paranormal" story. It's a book that has a practitioner of an Earth/Goddess based religion, and isn't quiet and unassuming about it. I also must clarify the erroneous claims that she boasts about this to all and sundry people. Who has she spoken to? Her family (who are all of Scottish descent and are aware of her religion) and Scandal/Richard, whom she is trying to warn off from marrying her. Then, later, when Devil et al arrive, they are accepting of Scandal's choice in wife and the beliefs that she has. Oh the horror!! She would clearly have been burnt at the stake! Sheesh. She had used those claims to frighten off suitors in the past, but that doesn't mean they necessarily believed her or cared -- only those that knew but were trying to force her hand because of it. However it was explained that while Seamus was her guardian, he took care to protect her.
I began reading this series in order, so I didn't encounter some of the irritation that other reviewers had. Namely that I had not read Helena and Sebastian's story first (it's a prequel, not the first in the series). Even when I DID read "The Promise in a Kiss", while I felt saddened about Sebastian's infidelity, by then the story was old hat. If you're going to enjoy one with the other, then you need to just separate the two, otherwise you will be saddened by one of them, one way or another. Or you can just accept that Sebastian wasn't perfect, made a very big mistake, and that Helena forgave him (and maybe he spent the rest of his life making up for it). Whatever makes you happiest. I mean, isn't it a testament to their love that they could overcome a(n)... hiccup... without destroying their happiness over it? As is mentioned in the book, when Richard asked Sebastian if he had loved Richard's mother: "She was very lovely and very lonely -- she deserved more than she got from her marriage." He'd paused, then added: "I felt sorry for her." He'd looked at him, and his slow smile had creased his face. "But I love you. I regret her death, but I can't regret your birth." What a testament to a remorseful man and the woman who loved him. Who was also able to get the one thing from it that she desperately wanted -- another child. In fact, the one thing that bothered ME was that Richard occasionally referred to Helena as his "stepmother" -- when he'd always known her as "Maman". It somehow lessened the genuine love that Helena seemed to feel for her beloved husband's son.
I won't even address the sheer absurdity of trying to attach 20th and 21st century ideas of feminism to a 19th century book. The unique part of the story was in Scandal's willingness to accept Catriona's "dominance" in the spiritual realm. If he was the stereotypical alpha hero, he would flex his alpha muscles and try to change her. The tension, the "conflict", stemmed from Scandal's attempts to give Catriona the freedom she needed to run the Vale (as she had for YEARS on her own, people!), and Catriona's attempts to allow Scandal the freedom she believes that he needs/wants. If that's too subtle, if you like your conflict more cut and dry, then you won't like the book, either.
And really, it's not exactly a big deal if people do or do not like this particular book. For some of us it's one of our favorites by this author. For others, it's their least favorite. It's not like this author doesn't have two dozen other books to choose from. Even though all of the plots are (at the very least) similar, they are all well-written. And you will NEVER find a more in-depth sex scene outside of erotica. There is straight erotica and then there's Stephanie Laurens. No one else can make a kiss last 4 pages and a sex scene last 10 pages.
As for the "mystery"... There IS no mystery -- we know instantly who the villain is and why for Scandal's poisoning, and we know nearly instantly who is to blame for the fire. The interest is in the story itself. Again, that's not to everyone's taste. I was happy to read a book without the regular plot devices of kidnapping and routing of the villain, usually resulting in the villain's death. I enjoyed the story, didn't find it "boring" -- but it's not the type of plot that will keep you guessing. I personally prefer stories that have more "meat" to them (literally AND figuratively *raising eyebrows suggestively*), and this is one of my favorites. Mainly because these are probably the hottest sex scenes in any book. (I will only do a cursory address of the claim that there was "rape" involved -- I will say only that Scandal was MORE than willing, and being a little out of it isn't quite the same as being unconcious or unwilling. Again, if that thought is troubling, then this book is not for you.)
On a whole, I enjoyed this book more than most of Stephanie Laurens' works. They tend to be predictable and have re-hashed plots. But if you want an eloquent author, she definitely fits the bill. She's not the best by far, but when you know what to expect (and I can see, from the back-lash, why she rarely ventures out of the accepted "comfort zone"), there's little to be dissapointed in.
Edited to add a couple of things I forgot.
It may seem that I've written enough, but I really do have to address one other terribly innaccurate comment that has been made.
Okay, since this is apparently a huge deal for some people, especially those who don't really pay that much attention to what they're reading... Yes, Scandal is illegitimate. BUT... While his mother's husband may LEGALLY be his father, Seamus McEnery wasn't a peer. His estate and fortune was not bound to anyone, and could thus be left to whomever he chose to leave it to. In this case, HIS eldest son, Jamie. Only if Seamus's estate was entailed would the dispersal of his estate become the concern of anyone but the solicitors. If Scandal wanted to claim any of it, perhaps he could fight for it, but that wasn't the case, and Seamus knew that. As was mentioned, he'd made an extensive study of the Cynsters. Also in Devil's Bride it was well established that, though he was accepted due to the fact that NO ONE would dare cross the Cynsters, Scandal was NOT Devil's heir -- his illegitimacy was legallly understood. At least by the author and the characters in the book. Perhaps not so much by some readers.
Finally, as is my usual way, I must include an amusing tidbit. This author may be eloquent, but that doesn't mean that she doesn't throw some flat-out flubs in there for our consumption.
"The only thing they'll care about," he murmured, juggling her, "is that I've chosen you."
REALLY? He was JUGGLING her? I'm wondering how one juggles a person -- or at least just one person.
drugged
"Spoiler"... I can only give Laurens' "Scandal's Bride" 3 stars. While enjoyable there is one plot in the book that really bothered me. Catriona, believing Richard is to be the destined father of her children but unwilling to allow him in her life, drugs Richard so that she can love him and leave him. I know this is fiction and fantasy (I often suspend belief when reading paranormal romances) but the thought of drugging anyone for sex, even if he did enjoy it, is terrible. If it had been a man drugging a woman, it would have been rape.
Once you get past the drug scene, Catriona accepts Richard in her life and we see them adjust as a married couple. I enjoyed this portion of the story.
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