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knewton7's review against another edition
3.0
Predictable historical romance. Decent enough but no big teeth. Most interesting thing is the secondary character, Dalziel. I'm looking forward to HIS story!
simplyparticular's review against another edition
2.0
I've been enjoying the Bastion Club series for some time, but this is one of my least favorite. Gervase is moderately interesting, but Madeline is overly-stubborn, and the book bogs down in the middle with Laurens endless, prosaic intimate scenes. Only the overarching Bastion Club mystery kept me going for awhile there, and then the usual Laurens suspense ending brought it to a rousing finish.
auntiel's review against another edition
4.0
Second from last in the Bastion Club series. Good plot and I liked revisiting old characters.
valefimbres's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
lighthearted
fast-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? Yes
4.25
hannahkiwi's review against another edition
3.0
The first half was over-sexualised waffle, with every "unique" encounter identical to every other Laurens' couple (maybe that's the point...).
The second half is ridiculous melodrama, which was rather fun.
The second half is ridiculous melodrama, which was rather fun.
emjayae149's review against another edition
3.0
2.5 stars -it was OK/I liked it
I haven't read a Stephanie Laurens book in years. A regular diet of them saw me like them less and less because it's the same story told over and over again. Having said that, I didn't might another go around years later because I did enjoy the first of Laurens' Cynster book series. I got exactly what I expected, and I now have my Laurens fill for another few years.
This time I listened to the audio version, narrated by Steven Crossley. In general he did a good job but some of the female voices I found to be awkward.
And no, it's not an error. I am leaving the same review for Book 7 of the Bastion Club because I feel the same way.
I haven't read a Stephanie Laurens book in years. A regular diet of them saw me like them less and less because it's the same story told over and over again. Having said that, I didn't might another go around years later because I did enjoy the first of Laurens' Cynster book series. I got exactly what I expected, and I now have my Laurens fill for another few years.
This time I listened to the audio version, narrated by Steven Crossley. In general he did a good job but some of the female voices I found to be awkward.
And no, it's not an error. I am leaving the same review for Book 7 of the Bastion Club because I feel the same way.
pattydsf's review against another edition
3.0
As always, I really enjoyed this book by Stephanie Laurens. She draws the reader into the story and into the world she had created by starting with a problem. Usually the male lead talks himself into a corner and then we watch and hope while he finds his way to true romance and marriage.
Yes, this is a formula. That is why I read romance - it is predictable. However, every Laurens romance is unique - she does not rest on her laurels. If someone asks me for a good historical romance - Stephanie Laurens will be at the top of my list.
It is hard to believe that this is the first Laurens romance I have added to my "read" books. There was a time when I was reading every Cynster novel she was publishing. Just goes to show that my romance reading has greatly expanded. I have 16 different authors under historical romances - I didn't count all the romance authors that I have read in the last three years.
I like the way that Stephanie Laurens writes. I find her novels to be more involving, more interesting because there is more adventure and mystery than in an average Regency romance. There will be more Laurens romances on my shelves as time goes on.
Yes, this is a formula. That is why I read romance - it is predictable. However, every Laurens romance is unique - she does not rest on her laurels. If someone asks me for a good historical romance - Stephanie Laurens will be at the top of my list.
It is hard to believe that this is the first Laurens romance I have added to my "read" books. There was a time when I was reading every Cynster novel she was publishing. Just goes to show that my romance reading has greatly expanded. I have 16 different authors under historical romances - I didn't count all the romance authors that I have read in the last three years.
I like the way that Stephanie Laurens writes. I find her novels to be more involving, more interesting because there is more adventure and mystery than in an average Regency romance. There will be more Laurens romances on my shelves as time goes on.
lissielove's review against another edition
4.0
Overall Response
After the travesty of To Distraction, this was a breath of fresh air though that's not a super hard threshold to conquer, is it? God, I still get annoyed by that book.
This entry in the series brings back both Malcolm Sinclair and the recurring "last traitor" plot. I don't really know what Malcolm is doing here -- he seems to have a sort of slightly nefarious plot brewing to get some tinning leases but it fizzles out pretty quick. I know he's in more of Laurens' books -- and he gets his own redemption book but it's hard to see what he adds here.
The plot itself centers around the last traitor though it takes some time for that plot get going. Like To Distraction and A Fine Passion, the romance takes center stage for the first half of the book. Thankfully, this book follows in the footsteps of A Fine Passion because the romance isn't so bad. It's not nearly as good as either Tristan and Leonora and Jack and Clarice, but it's a comfortable in third finish.
The characters are in the mold of the usual Laurens leads and there isn't much to differentiate them from, say, Jack and Clarice. They're all strong-minded people who love their land and their family. The leads and their supporting cast are serviceable but nothing special.
The romance, however, is a bit unique in that Gervase has known Madeline for many years but he's always seen her as an equal, not necessarily as someone who he might be interested in. She's always been in that other box. Once he comes home, he promises his sisters he'll marry the next eligible woman he comes across -- and that turns out to be Madeline. He sets out to see if they're compatible, and once he's decided she is, sets out to convince her.
There are aspects to the romance that I find less than convincing, but they work within the particular world that Stephanie Laurens has constructed for her society. I'll get into them in the weeds.
I think is is an okay entry in the series. It reminds me of A Lady of His Own in that everything does what it's there to do, but nothing really stands out.
Spoilers
I don't really have any serious pieces of critique to talk about or any thing I really want to gush about either. The romance could have easily been as awful as To Distraction because it has some of the same elements -- Gervase setting out to convince Madeline to marry him -- but it has none of the stalker type things that destroyed that last book. Very early on, Madeline confronts Gervase about why she thinks he must be asking her for an affair, not considering her hand in marriage. She gives him four reasons why she doesn't believe that's the case, and he spends the rest of the book trying to debunk her reasons. That's fine, and Madeline is on board with an affair, so it's not like Gervase is forcing her to do anything.
I think the tinning lease Sinclair plot is supposed to give Madeline and Gervase an early chance to work together, but since Malcolm takes off within the first 100 pages, it's just fizzle. I'm sure it's relevant in another book -- but it doesn't even become relevant in this series, which is why I wish Laurens had chosen any other character for that role.
The rest of it is fine -- the Brady Bunch siblings are kind of annoying (they each have three younger siblings of the opposite sex). I don't understand how Gervase is so close to his sisters since he's been a spy at war for basically their entire lives, but okay, fine. I don't really buy that Madeline thinks she's she too old to be his bride or that any of her reasons are actually realistic, but whatever. Gervase accepts them and gets rid of them.
I mean, it was just fine. It takes a while to get to the main plot but I like the idea of the last traitor waiting for his 30 pieces of silver and whatnot. It escalates nicely, but I could have done without the second brother getting kidnapped.
Perhaps the best part of this book is that I still like Dalziel. He has a great moment at the end of the book where he isn't sure if Madeline can take care of herself in a fight, and then the woman beats him at a fencing match. He likes to give orders, but he can be reasoned with. All in all, I'm looking forward to his book and seeing if he still holds up.
After the travesty of To Distraction, this was a breath of fresh air though that's not a super hard threshold to conquer, is it? God, I still get annoyed by that book.
This entry in the series brings back both Malcolm Sinclair and the recurring "last traitor" plot. I don't really know what Malcolm is doing here -- he seems to have a sort of slightly nefarious plot brewing to get some tinning leases but it fizzles out pretty quick. I know he's in more of Laurens' books -- and he gets his own redemption book but it's hard to see what he adds here.
The plot itself centers around the last traitor though it takes some time for that plot get going. Like To Distraction and A Fine Passion, the romance takes center stage for the first half of the book. Thankfully, this book follows in the footsteps of A Fine Passion because the romance isn't so bad. It's not nearly as good as either Tristan and Leonora and Jack and Clarice, but it's a comfortable in third finish.
The characters are in the mold of the usual Laurens leads and there isn't much to differentiate them from, say, Jack and Clarice. They're all strong-minded people who love their land and their family. The leads and their supporting cast are serviceable but nothing special.
The romance, however, is a bit unique in that Gervase has known Madeline for many years but he's always seen her as an equal, not necessarily as someone who he might be interested in. She's always been in that other box. Once he comes home, he promises his sisters he'll marry the next eligible woman he comes across -- and that turns out to be Madeline. He sets out to see if they're compatible, and once he's decided she is, sets out to convince her.
There are aspects to the romance that I find less than convincing, but they work within the particular world that Stephanie Laurens has constructed for her society. I'll get into them in the weeds.
I think is is an okay entry in the series. It reminds me of A Lady of His Own in that everything does what it's there to do, but nothing really stands out.
Spoilers
I don't really have any serious pieces of critique to talk about or any thing I really want to gush about either. The romance could have easily been as awful as To Distraction because it has some of the same elements -- Gervase setting out to convince Madeline to marry him -- but it has none of the stalker type things that destroyed that last book. Very early on, Madeline confronts Gervase about why she thinks he must be asking her for an affair, not considering her hand in marriage. She gives him four reasons why she doesn't believe that's the case, and he spends the rest of the book trying to debunk her reasons. That's fine, and Madeline is on board with an affair, so it's not like Gervase is forcing her to do anything.
I think the tinning lease Sinclair plot is supposed to give Madeline and Gervase an early chance to work together, but since Malcolm takes off within the first 100 pages, it's just fizzle. I'm sure it's relevant in another book -- but it doesn't even become relevant in this series, which is why I wish Laurens had chosen any other character for that role.
The rest of it is fine -- the Brady Bunch siblings are kind of annoying (they each have three younger siblings of the opposite sex). I don't understand how Gervase is so close to his sisters since he's been a spy at war for basically their entire lives, but okay, fine. I don't really buy that Madeline thinks she's she too old to be his bride or that any of her reasons are actually realistic, but whatever. Gervase accepts them and gets rid of them.
I mean, it was just fine. It takes a while to get to the main plot but I like the idea of the last traitor waiting for his 30 pieces of silver and whatnot. It escalates nicely, but I could have done without the second brother getting kidnapped.
Perhaps the best part of this book is that I still like Dalziel. He has a great moment at the end of the book where he isn't sure if Madeline can take care of herself in a fight, and then the woman beats him at a fencing match. He likes to give orders, but he can be reasoned with. All in all, I'm looking forward to his book and seeing if he still holds up.
jgrace's review against another edition
lighthearted
relaxing
medium-paced
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
celli's review against another edition
4.0
Possibly my favorite Laurens book so far. Fantastic heroine, interesting hero, fun secondary characters, and a plot that...well, it bogged down a little in the setup. But it redeemed itself with a kickass action scene. SWORDFIGHTING! I approve.