3.5 - better than the last one, but not as good as some of the original stories with the Bar Cynster. This plot at least involved intense adventure. It really did seem like a giant murder mystery party; like a fictional game of Clue with a romance. So, that was good. Definitely one of the better plots in the series. However, my problem was with the characters. At this point in the series there is absolutely nothing that distinguishes the males from each other. I could tell the difference, generally, between the six original Cynsters: the Bar Cynsters. But now the men are all becoming a blurry cliche. The women still have individual qualities, but Portia was not my favourite. Definitely near the bottom in terms of personalities I like and relate to. She was just too logical for my liking. I did believe their chemistry together and I loved how what they felt between each other started years and years ago and they decide to let to develop and become real. I felt the connection. But I wasn't able to relate as much as I would have liked to them as individuals. I think this might be the end for me in terms of the series. It is becoming too repetitive with repeating character types and plot threads. Favourite stories have definitely been Devil's, Demon's and Gabriel's. Favourite heroines have been Francesca, Honoria and Alathea. I have loved the family connectedness and loyalty; definitely one of if not THE highlight of the series. For what it is (intense romance, very predictable, fleeting entertainment) this series has been most enjoyable - probably 3.75 overall in terms of books #1-#10, but its time for me to call a halt to it as I don't see things getting better and now all the male cousins are married. But I have definitely enjoyed the reading.
Really more like a 3.5 Stars, though it was kind of tough to decide. On one hand, the mystery in this one was pretty good, kept me guessing, and while a lot of characters were introduced at the house party, once I got them straightened out in my mind, I liked most of them, and have a feeling we may see them again (I'm thinking maybe James and Charlie). Once Inspector Stokes came on the scene, I really liked him too, and look forward to seeing him some more in the Barnaby books. I mostly liked Simon and Portia too, neither one really overly aggravated me. So, that's the good. The other hand though, I got bored with the abundance of long sex/foreplay/kissing scenes. Like every other scene they were going at it again. I found myself skimming the love scenes again for the first time since like 5 books in this series ago. So that was a negative. I think the mystery balanced it out for me though for the most part. It wasn't too easy for me to figure out, and I liked how it played out. So, 3.5 Stars it is. I also really liked Lady Osbaldestone's role in this one! The old battle-axe had me giggling in a few places, and her cheekiness in pushing Simon and Portia together, telling em to quit wasting time, was a fun bit. For such a proper old society matriarch, she sure did show a naughty side in this book. I liked that. I'm most definitely looking forward to next month's read, Where the Heart Leads, featuring Portia's sister Penelope and that Barnaby guy I've become so intrigued by. And get to see some more Inspector Stokes too, that's also exciting :)*Edit to add, we will definitely see James again, as I just realized he is the hero of And Then She Fell. So much for Miss Lucy Buckstead, eh? Lol.
What do You think about The Perfect Lover (2004)?
Le doy un puntaje de 4.50 al libro, me encantó el carácter de ambos personajes, ambos fuertes y decididos. Su relación va cambiando de a poco (bueno la primer aparte no, me parece que se entregan muy fácil a las "lecciones" que él le da) pero el resto del libro que gira entorno a si ella aceptará o no ser su esposa es bastante relajado el avance de la historia.Porqué 4/4.50 y no 5? me parece que no fue bien desarrollado porqué ella no quería casarse, solamente porque temía que él la quisiese cam
—Aldy
Overall, rather disappointing. This is one of those books I'm glad to be finished with. I rushed through it because I felt it deserved more than a DNF. Much like the previous book in this series, I felt it had way too much analysis of the sex between the h/h. There wasn't even a storyline until the last half of the book when a murder occurs. It takes place at a country house party. Simon Cynster decides he needs to marry and sets his sites on Portia whom he has known well for 10 years. They always seemed to get on each other's nerves. She decides she wants a family and is out to explore the possible emotions behind marriage. So for her it is an experiment. He goes along knowing he wants to convince her to marry him. But it felt like the author must have had some kind of page count that had to be devoted to the sex between them. By the end of the book, it was simply stated without the 20 pages of description each time. It got boring after a while.I'm not even sure I want to read the rest in the series. But I so loved the earlier books. I'm torn. Maybe at some future point I'll be able to pick up the next one.
—Dawn
Review taken from my blog in September 2010:I've just finished this one this morning, in between packing Toodles off to school (not my turn for the school run today) and packing orders......and it might be heading to the top of the list of Stephanie Laurens titles read thus far - an easy read of Simon Cynster and Portia Ashford, friends/adversaries since childhood and their slow discovery of love that develops. More saucy scenes and a murder ~with Simon and Portia trapping the murderer at the end all ends happily ~ just what I would expect.I think this one is book 10 in the Cynster series, but as before you can read any of them as stand-alones ... actually though, pay attention they do weave together very nicely!Right, enough reading for now ~although I have selected another Cynster one, which is ready and waiting to go .... Temptation and Surrender.Actually, whilst thinking about this there is one point I might have touched on before, but I feel the need to expand: I most assuredly DO NOT like the trashy drawn illustration covers that the books are currently being sold with. The one I have been reading (above) has a much nicer cove. I accept that perhaps the publisher wants to suggest at the saucy nature that lies within, but come on ...... a real photograph of people in the relevant historical period in a saucy pose would give their books the due homage they need .... the trashy illustrated versions just remind me of cheapo books without much going on in them, and written by an entirely less worth author. I would be interested to hear other peoples opinions on this.
—Kay Bolton
