Devil's Bride

A Cynster Novel

By: Stephanie Laurens

Narrated by: Simon Prebble

Bold, daring, larger-than-life heroes and feisty, intelligent heroines propel Stephanie Laurens' exciting historical romances. Devil's Bride is rich with engaging plot and sensuous character development.

Governess Honoria Wetherby values her independence. She would rather travel the world than marry and give some man control of her life. Then, one stormy evening, fate changes all her plans. She stumbles upon a mortally wounded young man in the woods. When the stranger dies, she is trapped in a cabin with his body and with his newly arrived cousin, Devil, whom she soon learns is aptly named. He insists that their unchaperoned night together has compromised her honor, and, therefore she must marry him. Tension levels run high as Honoria plots to thwart Devil's marriage plans and tries to help him find his cousin's killer...the same madman who is now plotting to murder Devil.

Narrator Simon Prebble tantalizes listeners as he breathes life into these intriguing characters.

Savor another Cynster novel.©1999 Savdek Management Proprietory Ltd. (P)2001 Recorded Books, LLC

Critic reviews

"Lush sensuality, deft plotting, and charming secondary characters make this novel a stellar beginning for the Bar Cynster series." (Amazon.com review)

An easy read and a simple plot

I admit I enjoyed reading this book but the plot seemed weak and obvious. I actually read The Ideal Bride before purchasing this book and did not realize that the stories are connected since that book does not show up in the series. The plot for The Ideal Bride was much more complicated and neither the hero nor the heroine were trying to overpower the other as in this book. This book’s hero is very strong-minded and pushes for marriage all throughout the book. Hard to believe a sought after Duke would be so persistent but oh well. I understand that times were different those days but for someone so strong-minded as the heroine to agree to become a wife and mother and leave her long life dream of traveling to Africa was hard to accept. Made the story a bit bookish and unreal especially since the Duke did not offer to take her to Africa after their marriage. So if you have not read the Ideal Bride, read that book instead even if like myself you are a fan of Duke stories.

It's awful

Too much "his green fathomless eyes, his muscular chest, his curling lips, his nightblack hair, his splendid physique, his overwhelming presence"-kind of things. I couldn't stand it and skipped it a couple of chapters in.

Oooh! So that’s a bodice ripper!

Woah guys. The fervor with which the narrator voices those scenes. So many uncomfortable laughs and fast forwarding. Not my cup of tea!

A-a-a-h ! THE BAR CYNSTER

Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

Yes. Ms. Laurens never ceases to amaze me with her writing. The knowledge of all that makes up England/Scotland in the early 1800's is remarkable. The language, the dress, the means by which society lived; young girls coming out (& being an old maid by age 29); the decorum of courting, etc. It is a joy to read/listen to a novel that has not only somewhat explicit romance but substance. Portraying the Bar Cynster men as wealthy, rakish, large, handsome, protective, and family committed doesn't hurt either.

Who was your favorite character and why?

Devil, of course.

Have you listened to any of Simon Prebble’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

Simon Prebble, I believe, is the only one who could have performed this series. His voice makes the men of the Cynster family even sexier and more intriguing. Also, when he uses his female voices, they sound like female voices. I like that he uses a different voice for each of the Cynster men, they don't sound alike. I particularly fell in love with Devil's extremely deep voice.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

Both.

Any additional comments?

I only wish there were more of the Bar Cynster.

love the whole series

the first installment in a really fun series. Have them all, read them many times each and never tire. can't go wrong.