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A review by sarah1984
By Winter's Light by Stephanie Laurens
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.