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ssejig's review against another edition
3.0
Lord Randolph Cavanaugh is on his way to visit his brother and sister-in-law but stops off to inspect one of his syndicates investments along the way. He is shocked to discover that, rather than the venerable inventor Throgmorton, his son William John is working on finishing the steam engine because his father has died.
Also shocked to find out that working on the invention is not what she thought? William John's sister, Felicia. But in order for everyone to win (there are apparent consequences for Randolph but what they are seems to be a weak attempt at a red herring), all three will have to work together not only to finish the engine but also thwart the man working to sabotage the horseless machine.
I miss the sparkling wit and longer-drawn love stories of earlier Laurens. While this was a perfectly okay book, there was so much page space given to the invention and the probable prevention, there was little leftover for either character development or the actual romance.
Also shocked to find out that working on the invention is not what she thought? William John's sister, Felicia. But in order for everyone to win (there are apparent consequences for Randolph but what they are seems to be a weak attempt at a red herring), all three will have to work together not only to finish the engine but also thwart the man working to sabotage the horseless machine.
I miss the sparkling wit and longer-drawn love stories of earlier Laurens. While this was a perfectly okay book, there was so much page space given to the invention and the probable prevention, there was little leftover for either character development or the actual romance.
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I’m shocked at my own reading experience with this book considering that I have such love for Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster series. THE DESIGNS OF LORD RANDOLPH CAVANAUGH is the start of a new series and I launched at it with great enthusiasm and expectation.
I have to say, I started off interested and open-minded but by 35%, I was having difficulty with the book for a few reasons. Firstly, this might have well been a rookie’s guide to steam engines for all the technical information and description and sadly it had me very bored. This issue perpetuated throughout the book with much discussion of pistons, valves and boilers (I don’t mean those phrases as a double entendre either). My second issue was around the main characters themselves. Both characters, Felicia and Rand were basically pleasant characters but they had no chemistry. Their supposed connection came out of nowhere and it’s just wasn’t believable for me. It was everything instalove and I was turned off.
This is the least romantic book I’ve read from Stephanie Laurens, with slow burn of chemistry and I must admit I was desperate for some romantic connection earlier. Maybe I was just ‘over it’ when it did come. My rating and value for this book are given for the main characters themselves, I liked them each as people, just not together, so clearly this missed the spot with me.
If you’ve not read Stephanie Laurens, don’t start here. Start with Devil’s Bride.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
I’m shocked at my own reading experience with this book considering that I have such love for Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster series. THE DESIGNS OF LORD RANDOLPH CAVANAUGH is the start of a new series and I launched at it with great enthusiasm and expectation.
I have to say, I started off interested and open-minded but by 35%, I was having difficulty with the book for a few reasons. Firstly, this might have well been a rookie’s guide to steam engines for all the technical information and description and sadly it had me very bored. This issue perpetuated throughout the book with much discussion of pistons, valves and boilers (I don’t mean those phrases as a double entendre either). My second issue was around the main characters themselves. Both characters, Felicia and Rand were basically pleasant characters but they had no chemistry. Their supposed connection came out of nowhere and it’s just wasn’t believable for me. It was everything instalove and I was turned off.
This is the least romantic book I’ve read from Stephanie Laurens, with slow burn of chemistry and I must admit I was desperate for some romantic connection earlier. Maybe I was just ‘over it’ when it did come. My rating and value for this book are given for the main characters themselves, I liked them each as people, just not together, so clearly this missed the spot with me.
If you’ve not read Stephanie Laurens, don’t start here. Start with Devil’s Bride.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
stacey42's review against another edition
3.0
I read everything that Stephanie Laurens writes. I love the Cynsters & their kin, but she does occasionally produce some clunkers. This one isn't a full on clunker, the way The Masterful Mister Montague was was or the Adventurers Quartet in general were, but it does fall a bit flat.
The mystery part of the story was good. Will they figure out who is trying to sabotage the steam engine? Will they be able to stop him? I enjoyed the 'troublemaker' who turned out not to be that bad after all.
The problem is, I liked him more than Rand. Rand was okay, a perfectly nice guy, not one of her over protective alpha types who occasionally go over the top for my tastes. He was caring, concerned, not lost in the whole "a man like me can never admit love" BS that irritates me if it goes on too long (looking at you, Devil). But he was kind of flat. I didn't really feel his attraction to Felicity was driven by more than she was there at the time & it was convenient for the plot.
Felicity was a decent heroine. She was smart, strong and self-assured. She faced her demons without a lot of dithering. But she too was a bit flat. Her attraction to Rand also seemed to be along the lines of "Oh here's a man I've never met, which is something of a novelty where I live, I should find him attractive."
Overall I liked it well enough but it didn't have much spark.
The mystery part of the story was good. Will they figure out who is trying to sabotage the steam engine? Will they be able to stop him? I enjoyed the 'troublemaker' who turned out not to be that bad after all.
The problem is, I liked him more than Rand. Rand was okay, a perfectly nice guy, not one of her over protective alpha types who occasionally go over the top for my tastes. He was caring, concerned, not lost in the whole "a man like me can never admit love" BS that irritates me if it goes on too long (looking at you, Devil). But he was kind of flat. I didn't really feel his attraction to Felicity was driven by more than she was there at the time & it was convenient for the plot.
Felicity was a decent heroine. She was smart, strong and self-assured. She faced her demons without a lot of dithering. But she too was a bit flat. Her attraction to Rand also seemed to be along the lines of "Oh here's a man I've never met, which is something of a novelty where I live, I should find him attractive."
Overall I liked it well enough but it didn't have much spark.
musicalmuppet's review against another edition
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
5.0
bookphenomena_micky's review against another edition
2.0
2.5 stars
I’m shocked at my own reading experience with this book considering that I have such love for Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster series. THE DESIGNS OF LORD RANDOLPH CAVANAUGH is the start of a new series and I launched at it with great enthusiasm and expectation.
I have to say, I started off interested and open-minded but by 35%, I was having difficulty with the book for a few reasons. Firstly, this might have well been a rookie’s guide to steam engines for all the technical information and description and sadly it had me very bored. This issue perpetuated throughout the book with much discussion of pistons, valves and boilers (I don’t mean those phrases as a double entendre either). My second issue was around the main characters themselves. Both characters, Felicia and Rand were basically pleasant characters but they had no chemistry. Their supposed connection came out of nowhere and it’s just wasn’t believable for me. It was everything instalove and I was turned off.
This is the least romantic book I’ve read from Stephanie Laurens, with slow burn of chemistry and I must admit I was desperate for some romantic connection earlier. Maybe I was just ‘over it’ when it did come. My rating and value for this book are given for the main characters themselves, I liked them each as people, just not together, so clearly this missed the spot with me.
If you’ve not read Stephanie Laurens, don’t start here. Start with Devil’s Bride.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
I’m shocked at my own reading experience with this book considering that I have such love for Stephanie Lauren’s Cynster series. THE DESIGNS OF LORD RANDOLPH CAVANAUGH is the start of a new series and I launched at it with great enthusiasm and expectation.
I have to say, I started off interested and open-minded but by 35%, I was having difficulty with the book for a few reasons. Firstly, this might have well been a rookie’s guide to steam engines for all the technical information and description and sadly it had me very bored. This issue perpetuated throughout the book with much discussion of pistons, valves and boilers (I don’t mean those phrases as a double entendre either). My second issue was around the main characters themselves. Both characters, Felicia and Rand were basically pleasant characters but they had no chemistry. Their supposed connection came out of nowhere and it’s just wasn’t believable for me. It was everything instalove and I was turned off.
This is the least romantic book I’ve read from Stephanie Laurens, with slow burn of chemistry and I must admit I was desperate for some romantic connection earlier. Maybe I was just ‘over it’ when it did come. My rating and value for this book are given for the main characters themselves, I liked them each as people, just not together, so clearly this missed the spot with me.
If you’ve not read Stephanie Laurens, don’t start here. Start with Devil’s Bride.
I voluntarily read an early copy of this book.
zoer03's review against another edition
5.0
The same good quality story as ever with a hint of mystery and mayhem spiced with romance to push it along. Love it
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