Giles Chillingworth, a well known rake within the ton, realizes he needs a wife to help manage land and estate. He decides to enter a marriage of convenience with Francesca, a distant cousin with Italian heritage whose dowry will bring him additional land. Giles is so determined to treat this union as a business transaction, he doesn't even want to meet his bride-to-be before the ceremony. He is shocked to discover that he does know Francesca, and the physical passion between them is something h More...

I absorbed the first four or five chapters in this book. I was so drawn into finding out if Gyles Rawlings "Chillingworth" would finally find out who Francesca really was. He has been so determined to have a wife that is meek and quite and won't give him any trouble. It is amazing that he never asks who Francesca is he just assumes that first woman he meets and Rawling House is the one he is going to marry. It was fun watching him dig himself further and further into a hole with Francesca. It wa More...

Okay, I've now read 7 of these Cynster novels, and I'm still not seeing what all the fuss is about. They are enjoyable, easy reading, but none of them have given me warm fuzzies or made me blush as they are advertised to.

I always read in reviews of more current books, "Ooh, it's hot like the Cynster books", so I managed to buy or borrow them all, and I obviously have a very different definition of hot than most.

Calling the heroine's mouth a "wanton cavern" is not hot. Spending 6 pages describing More...

Great book, the story is really about passion and how it was manifested in many guises. Gyles (Chillingworth) isn't really a Cynster but he's an honorary member, I enjoyed reading about him through the previous Cynster novels and his character is really amusing. Upon reading this book I knew I would like it as I'm very intrigued with his character. This didn't disappoint, I'm very pleased with the story, as it went on it made me curious and anxious at the same time to read about Chillingworth's More...

After the Bar Cynster, Chillingworth is the next I'd wanted to see wed. This is his book and even though Gyles Rawlings, Earl of Chillingworth, understands he must marry he doesn't want to marry for love but for convenience. He watched his father die at 7 years of age and then watched his mother mourn the loss of her beloved husband. His man of business picks his wife, Francesca Rawlings. And when the Earl visits and makes his offer to Francesca's guardian and uncle, he gets a glimpse of who he More...

I haven't actually finished this book as I took too long and then I had to return it to the library...I was really excited to read this book as I had just finished A lady of Expectations; I like this author as she writes regency and adds a few sexy bits too ;) however I don't think this book was well-balanced as there was just one page after the other of them actually having sex for their first night which was just too long! And then after that there were a few scenes here and there, but towards More...

Yet another amazing Cynster Tale from Stephanie Laurens! This time, instead of an actual Cynster, the story focuses around the Earl of Chillingworth, who was made an honorary Cynster at the end of the previous book. At the beginning of the story the reader just doesn't like him because he is determined to enter into an arranged marriage in order to avoid the Cynster curse... yet, it is easy for the reader to deal with as you KNOW that his plans will fail. Even though you are aware that at the en More...

My review for All About Passion by Stephanie Laurens will be fairly short and concise. This book is the same as the majority of her others. If you like your hero to be dark and brooding, and your heroine to be passionate, a little pushy and the one woman who finally overcomes the hero's emotional walls.... then this is the book for you! Stephanie Laurens is the master of this type of novel, and does it well. I do like that in All About Passion she adds an element of mystery/adventure to the nove More...

I've read - and thoroughly enjoyed - Stephanie Laurens' Cynster, Bastion Club and Black Cobra series, but somehow I missed this one - the story of Gyles Rawlins, Earl of Chillingworth, an honory Cynster who made an appearance in most of the earlier Cynster novels. So, I was thrilled to find it at the library's used book sale, and read it in a day. Chillingworth decides he wants a marriage of convenience, but the reader knows from the beginning that it's never going to happen, especially after we More...

Blah kind of sums up this book for me. I kept hoping it would get more interesting as it progressed, but it never really did, at least for me. The quality of writing was fine, but like I commented earlier, I didn't feel a connection to the characters for some reason, and its not something I can put my finger on. It was your typical recipe for historical romance, where the hero doesn't want to fall in love, but can't help but fight his 'special' feelings for the heroine despite himself, and final More...

Once again I am back on the historical romance, however I have a reason for this one, I was given this one by my friend who wanted to know what the author, and the specific book was like. Who can turn down a book request by one of her closest friends? Not a true book junkie that's for sure.

I enjoyed this one on that note much much MUCH more than Scandal's Bride, maybe because this book was entirely focused on the relationship and not religion. I got more of what I expected from the book because, More...

Loved, loved, loved this book!! Francesca was a fantastic heroine; assertive without being pushy, and she doesn't hold a grudge. She still has a temper, but she's not a bitch. And I also loved how she was able to separate the passionate side of their relationship from the emotional side. This is a historical lady who likes sex, and even when she's mad at Gyles, is happy to get herself some. Woot Woot! She made this book a pleasure for me.
Gyles was too angsty, to the point where I thought it was More...

eLibrary
Gyles Fredrick Rawlings, Earl of Chillingworth, finally decides he needs to find a wife to have an heir to keep his cousin (who encourages his marriage) from inheriting the Earldome. He decides to look for an arranged marriage and let it be known that he has no ideas or hopes of love from it. He finds a distant cousin, Francesca Rawlings, who is of marriageable age and is dowered with a slice of his lands that has been lost from the family estates long ago. Unfortunately, Franni is, ill More...

Gyles Chillingworth is not a true Cynster, but he's been adopted by the clan. He refuses to marry for love and instead contracts a very sensible relationship with Francesca Chillingworth (a very distant cousin) for a piece of land that passed out of his immediate family. When he visits, he mistakes Francesca's cousin for his bride-to-be and Francesca for a wanton gypsy. At the ceremony, he realizes his mistake... but so does Francesca. The two have to work through their misunderstandings as well More...

I really liked the beginning of the story, when Chillingworth organizes his perfect marriage of convenience with a bland obedient puppet, while being violently attracted by an exotic witch. And of course, the exotic witch is in fact his intended, and the other her cousin.
I liked that Francesca does not behave impulsively (and stupidly) and slowly works on getting her husband recognize that he cares for her, does not want a marriage of convenience with her and loves her.
Chillingworth is torn betw More...

3.5 Stars! Well, I'm really delayed in writing this review. December was a hectic month, and I got way far behind in my book reviews, and am just now trying to catch up. Hope I can still make some sort of sense here.
Continuing on with our series read and discussion over at Romance Lovers for the Challenge-Impaired. I was really, really looking forward to this one as Chillingworth has been the most attractive guy in the series to me so far. And I have to say, I did like this one quite well. Sure, More...

I think this is the best Cynster novel since Devil's Bride as Chillingham has been an intriguing character from the beginning and the arranged marriage story is one I've been hoping to read in Stephanie Laurens's unique vein. It doesn't disappoint as Francesca is an incredibly strong woman who knows precisely what she wants from marriage. It's a strange union, but it is said that opposites attract, as played out in this story. I loved it because it includes the Cynster clan and the wider ton soc More...

Typical Stephanie Laurens. Her character development is always good. She draws you into the story and makes you care about the characters. They do things that you'd expect and some things that you don't, but rarely do they do things that would be out of character. I know that most of my book ratings end up being a 4 or 5, but I don't stick with a book that I don't really enjoy and I definitely enjoyed this book

Fun reading how the "honorary" Cynster wound up loving his wife despite all intentions to the contrary. Minus points for recycling the cyanide poisoning scene from Devil's Bride but only reversing which spouse smells the poison.

Great scenes with the plum picking and harvest festival. Nice development of the villain but any Criminal Minds fan had it figured out from the first "accident".

This one starts strong with the mistaken identity thing and the heroine's very good reasons to be angry with the hero. But the tension between them doesn't last long, and then the story ends up revolving around a mystery that isn't so mysterious. I don't hate Laurens' writing, but she misses opportunities to make her books real page-turners. I find myself very able to put the book down and forget it.

A wonderful story about strong males pretending that they don't need love and the fantastically written heroine who delights in proving him wrong. Definitively, just a well written, sink your teeth in romance. Sex scenes are moderate in heat, enough to make the mainstream blush but not tipping over into erotica. I have read and reread this novel over and over, the story is that good.

OK so Chillingworth is now an honorary Cynster. That is just so funny. He hopes to avoid the curse also. So he decides to make an arranged marriage. He has is man-of-business go and find a list of eligible ladies. He also has him check on one that will give him back some property that belonged to his family. Well he picks a name (the one to give back the property) and decides that sight unseen he will marry her. The uncle is the go between because he wants it done like a series business deal. We More...

Gyles, Earl of Chillingworth marries Francesca thinking she's her cousin Franni and he's getting a biddable bride and into a convenient marriage - exactly what he needs to avoid love at all costs. Francesca on the other hand knows exactly what she wants from life - to love and be loved deeply and abidingly - and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it. Only to run into Gyles' love phobia because of a childhood trauma. The twists and turns of their relationship and dealing with the threat of More...

Part of the Cynster series, I am really late in reading this one and finishing the tales of the Bar Cynster. It was good - not great, but good. I enjoyed the series as a whole, but felt like this one was a watered down version of the story of Devil and Honoria. Eh, I'm glad I read it though.

I LOVE the Cynster Series and was excited to see Chillingsworth's story would be told. Devil's Story is by far my favorite, then comes his parents Sylvester & Helena's Story, next would be this one. I've read pretty much all the Cynster series in order and enjoyed them all.

I liked it but not nearly as much as the first six books which were absolutely amazing. At this point, the series just seems a bit forced and didn't have the same appeal to it.

Gyles Chillingworth needs an arranged marriage and an heir soon. He makes an offer for Francesca Rawlings sight unseen, based on her dowry and reputation, and then sets his mind to seducing the sultry lady he has met. On his wedding day he realizes that his intended mistress and his intended bride are one and the same.

Another great installment to the Cynster series, this time focusing on the rakish friend to the Cynsters who has appeared in earlier installments. Francesca is a great heroine who More...

Review taken from my Blog in October 2010:


I literally started it this time last night, and finished just now.

Fabulous read a 4 Star ****

Another Cynster novel, although Chillingworth is only an honorary. I really liked this one because Francesca is a strong character in her own right.

Stephanie Laurens is an excellent writer and this book is a proof of it, all of the series. It is funny and sensual...well up until now..lets see how it goes.
I liked this book very much. Its different from the others and a bit more passionate.
Great read!!!