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macwolf01's review
4.0
This is book 21 in Stephanie Lauren's Cynster series, many of the Cynster clan arrives at the Vale to celebrate the holiday season. Along with family several tutors and governesses travel with them.
As the children grown and start coming into their own we see glimpses of their future and the sweet romance of a tutor and a governess.
4 stars
As the children grown and start coming into their own we see glimpses of their future and the sweet romance of a tutor and a governess.
4 stars
ajenkins979's review
4.0
This book was more about the Cynster children, mostly the older group. There was also the romance between the governess and the tutor.
I felt that as a romance book, it lacked. Only because I felt it focused more on the older Cynster children. We do get the romance between Claire and Daniel, just not Ms. Laurens usual romance.
I do love the Cynster novels and it was great to read about the kids, but I would have liked more romance in this book.
It was good but not great and not up to Ms. Laurens usual standards. However I would recommend to anyone who has read about this particular family/series.
I felt that as a romance book, it lacked. Only because I felt it focused more on the older Cynster children. We do get the romance between Claire and Daniel, just not Ms. Laurens usual romance.
I do love the Cynster novels and it was great to read about the kids, but I would have liked more romance in this book.
It was good but not great and not up to Ms. Laurens usual standards. However I would recommend to anyone who has read about this particular family/series.
sarah1984's review against another edition
2.0
9/10 - Meh. The sex wasn't as purple as some of her other Cynster books, but as there was only one true sex scene it was enough. I liked seeing the very beginning of Lucilla and Thomas' story, but what I saw as the potential for their romance in this book was completely lost in the book that was actually focused on them. So, knowing how all that potential was squandered made their side-story a bit bittersweet for me.
The main hero and heroine of the story (Daniel and Claire) weren't really the main characters, there was such a large cast that the whole book had more of an ensemble feeling to it with The Cynster Clan playing the part of a character as a whole as well as individually. Daniel is the tutor to the boys from one branch of the family, while Claire is the governess to the girls of another branch of the family. Because the different branches regularly get together for holidays and celebrations Daniel's had plenty of opportunity to meet and fall in love with Claire, but to begin with Claire's not interested. She's a widow who doesn't want to risk getting involved with another man and spends most of the book trying to deter and/or avoid Daniel, but Daniel's persistent and eventually (after a heroic act) he manages to convince her to explain the truth behind her reluctance. Finally the only sex scene happens in about the second last chapter and while, like I said above, the sex wasn't as bad as it could have been it really wasn't particularly interesting, or sexy, or steamy, or hot, or any of the other adjectives you want to see being used in the review of a romance.
When it comes to me, Laurens seems to have about a million chances because no matter how disappointed I have been in her last six (or so) books I keep picking them up at the library. I can't seem to help myself. -_- Expect to see further, probably disappointed reviews of her future books.
The main hero and heroine of the story (Daniel and Claire) weren't really the main characters, there was such a large cast that the whole book had more of an ensemble feeling to it with The Cynster Clan playing the part of a character as a whole as well as individually. Daniel is the tutor to the boys from one branch of the family, while Claire is the governess to the girls of another branch of the family. Because the different branches regularly get together for holidays and celebrations Daniel's had plenty of opportunity to meet and fall in love with Claire, but to begin with Claire's not interested. She's a widow who doesn't want to risk getting involved with another man and spends most of the book trying to deter and/or avoid Daniel, but Daniel's persistent and eventually (after a heroic act) he manages to convince her to explain the truth behind her reluctance. Finally the only sex scene happens in about the second last chapter and while, like I said above, the sex wasn't as bad as it could have been it really wasn't particularly interesting, or sexy, or steamy, or hot, or any of the other adjectives you want to see being used in the review of a romance.
When it comes to me, Laurens seems to have about a million chances because no matter how disappointed I have been in her last six (or so) books I keep picking them up at the library. I can't seem to help myself. -_- Expect to see further, probably disappointed reviews of her future books.
aprilbooksandwine's review
2.0
Took me FOREVER to get through. Not a ton happens. Also not very focused either. I think I am more than ready to chalk my experience reading this book up to hefty expectations.
Read the rest of my review here
Review goes live December 3, 2014
Read the rest of my review here
Review goes live December 3, 2014
meganori's review
2.0
This is not a genre I like or a book I would have chosen, but it was the best thing I could find for a certain reading challenge. So my rating is a bit unfair to those who like these books. I had expected it would be bad, but actually it wasn't bad at all. It was just a bit bland and boring.
gwenj's review
5.0
I think I can't wait for the next book to come up. As always, I devoured this book, and have therefore stayed up past my bedtime so I could finish reading it. I will say that while it isn't precisely necessary to have read the Cynsters series, it is very helpful. More helpful still, to have a family tree close by so you can remember who is who. Loved this book, and thought it set the stage perfectly for the stories of the next generation of Cynsters.
musicalmuppet's review
4.0
As a filler novel this was a good book, but mainly because it kept you up to date with the Cynster clan during the teenage years! The main plot between the staff was decent, but not as good as I've come to expect from Laurens.
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