A Rake's Vow (Cynster Book 2)

Even though this is the second book in the series, I read it last and found it just as satisfying as all the others. Nobody is doing Regency romances better today than Stephanie Laurens. The plot of this book focused almost exclusively on the relationship between the two leads. There was some sort of mystery plot surrounding the whole thing, but frankly I couldn't keep the cast of characters straight and didn't find it very interesting. Not that it mattered. The core relationship was more than enough to keep me entertained. Unlike some of Laurens novels, the heroine in this book is a very level-headed, smart young woman. As always, the Cynster lead was devastatingly sexy. If we can't clone them in real life, at least Laurens has given us the next best thing - Cynster after Cynster.

This is such a fun story. The characters are well formed and some are quite quirky, which all ad to the body of this story. When Vane Cynster seeks shelter from a storm at his godmother's home, he doens't expect to meet his destiny, Patience Debbington. Patience is instantly attracted to the handsome Vane, but is cautious when it comes to "gentlemen". Vane is euqally attracted, but this woman is living under his godmother's roof and he can't possibly follow his "baser" instincts and act upon them. To win Patience over he first must solve the mystery of the "Spectre" and a petty theif that are causing trouble for everyone. What ensues is a fun adventure and love found that will keep you glued to the book.
This is the second in the series of the "Bar Cynster". Try and get them all, you'll be glad you did!

I heartily disagree with the reviewers who declared Patience a boring herione. She does not drag her feet at all. From reading the other reviews I hesitated to get the book, finally deciding that if I was going to read the rest of the series, I should read them in order. I was more than pleasantly surprised. While Vane is the typical Cynster (no faults, whatsoever) Patience is a wonderful heroine who does only what all heroines in romance novels do - she waits for love. If she had, in the face of Vane's serious declarations of love, dragged her feet, and for no worthwhile reason continued to refuse Vane, I would have agreed with the other reviewers. But as it stands, Patience only waited for what we all do. An incredibly enjoyable read.

I enjoyed the character of 'Vane' in Devil's Bride and decided to pick up the book with Vane's story. Although he is still very bit as attractive, he somehow lacked the excitment of a hero in this story. I failed to understand how the two of them felt in love. The relationship between the hero and heroine were not well developed leaving me only understanding the lust between the two.
The story moved so so slowly starting from the middle. It was truely painful to get through. The thiefs sub-plot was not exciting in any way and the mystery not well developed in the book. I only finished the book because I bought it and refuse to waste money/book.

This is the second in the Cynster Series after Devil's Bride. This is cousin Vane's story. He meets Patience at his godmother's estate and instantly knows she's fated to be his bride. The problem with that, is you never really know why. Towards the end of the book he decides he loves her but earlier in the book you never really know why she is the special one to him. I did like that the whodunit Ms. Laurens likes to put in each of her Cynster novels is more of a challenge this time. But that kind of fizzles out in the end too. However, this is still a satisfying story and anyone interested in the series should read it.

Vane Cynster is trying to get away from the matching making mama's, so a decides to leave London for awhile. A strong storm forces him to take shelter at godmother's home Bellamy Hall. Included the Lady Bellamy's odd guests is her niece Patience Debbington. For a while Vane fights the attaction, but he soon relizes that Patience is the one for him. But Patience and theif are much of Vane's time.
"A Rake's Vow" is the second in the "Bar Cynster" series by Stephanie Laurens and while I loved the first book, it was a struggle for me to finish this book. There just to much going on for me in this book. I am hoping that the series does improve.

Vane Cynster, Devil's cousin and closest friend, has his turn at meeting his match in this book. An enforced stay at his godmother's house brings him into contact with her niece, Patience Debbington, and a mystery: who is the magpie thief stealing all and sundry, and who is the Spectre who appears at night, in shadow, and appears to haunt the place? The primary suspect is Patience's young brother Gerrard, but Vane doesn't believe that for an instant. His godmother begs him to stay and sort it out, and as he is already very intrigued by Patience he agrees.
Patience is alarmed by Vane and does her best to avoid him; she's also worried about the effect he's having on Gerrard. ...
The plot of this book follows exactly the same direction as Devil's Bride. Vane - determined not to marry - encounters a woman and knows that he's met his fate. He wants to marry her. He proposes; she refuses him. He determines to persuade her through sensuality and at the same time find out why she won't marry him. And in the background there is a (not very interesting and pretty transparent) mystery plot - again, I'd worked out who was behind it pretty early on; ... Maybe Laurens wanted him to be seen as an idiot?
I found Vane's approach to Patience unconvincing; in one scene - when he'd just met her - he was aware that she had the power to attract him in a way no woman had before. And he was determined to resist that: he didn't *want* to marry. And yet barely a half-dozen pages later, with nothing having happened in the meantime, he was suddenly reconciled to his fate and determined to marry her. ...
And Patience's antipathy to Vane in the beginning was simply not explained until some way in the book. I can accept her stereotyping him as a certain type of man - and not being told what she meant by an `elegant gentleman' until almost halfway through the book did not help! - but we need to know *what* stereotype she's using, and why it bothers her. That took some time to convey.
Again, a lot of detailed sex scenes, which is fine if you like that kind of thing; they're too numerous and technical - as well as lengthy - for my preference. I prefer my lovemaking scenes to focus on the emotions rather than descriptions of sex organs. Of course the extent and locations of Vane and Patience's amorous encounters are all wrong for the period, and I'm not sure why Laurens seems to assume that engaged, or near-engaged, couples of the - quite Puritanic, remember! - Regency period would naturally have sex. This has come across in three of her books now; her heroes seem to make an automatic assumption that an engagement means free sex. ...
I do have the rest of the Cynster series and will keep reading - Laurens has a readable style, even if I do skim some scenes - but I do hope that she varies her plots for later books.

Just when you thought Stephanie Laurens couldn't get any better, she writes another stunning novel.
Following Devil's Bride as the second book in the Bar Cynster series by Laurens, this book manages to top the first.
Vane Cynster makes a mad run for it after his cousin Devil's wedding, as he refuses to be caught in the parson's mousetrap as well, but leave it to a thunderstorm to force him to take cover at his godmother's house, and introduce him to Miss Patience Debington.
When Patience gets trapped in the intrigue surrounding a petty thief at the house party she's attending, things begin to look up for her and her brother Gerrard when Vane shows up and puts his investigating skills to good use.
Though Patience hates the idea of getting tied to an "elegant gentleman" for life, she finds herself falling in love with the handsome cynster.
Laurens continues to amaze with her talent for writing. Hopefully she'll continue to pull off these wonderful romance novels for many years to come.

Laurens' approach to this series is very satisfying to me as a reader. Yes, by now I know part of what I am going to get when I pick up a new Cynster novel: strong, sexy, possessive family-loving male protaganist. Strong heroine. Some arousing sensual scenes. A happy ending. The reason I keep buying, and enjoying, each new book is that Laurens does provide a new conflict each time, and her main characters have different personalities from book to book. (Besides - when I want to be surprised, I read murder mysteries) Here, Patience is reluctant to trust Vane because of his superficial resemblance to her father, while Vane is an intuitive type who doesn't always find it easy to put his feelings into words - especially when he can put them into caresses instead. I think their relationship develops throughout the book in a plausible way, as Patience gradually dares to trust, and Vane succeeds better and better at getting his feelings into words. I'm glad this book, like her others, is long. I get to see the characters develop through many different incidents, and my enjoyment is prolonged.

This is the second in S Laurens' Cynster series started by Devil's Bride. Vane is an arrogant handsome ladykiller. Patience is well aware of her attraction to him - and Vane's to her. She is willing to gain experience of the exciting feelings his embraces invoke, but not trust him with her future. Vane sees her as his future. I recommend Devil's Bride also.

I like the serious minded Vane, but Patience thinks too much and this makes the story somewhat slow. Some of the characters are frankly absurd and don' t add anything to the plot. As much as I like the Cynster series, this is not one of my favourite books

I think it's pretty good, expecially Vane's character. He seems to be sensible than other Cynsters. I migth be wrong, just my impression. However, the mystery seems to be nothing and not so exciting. Well, that's the point, I suppose. This is a romance not a mystery.

A Rake's Vow (Cynster Novels) The Second Cynster Novel will have you so engrossed in a "Vane" kiss that you will be left breathless from beginning to end. Stephanie Laurens describes the experience so well you'll swear he has kissed your lips and left them on fire. You long for and look forward to each and every encounter. Leaving you wanting more and more. Bring on "Scandal's Bride".

I have been reading "Cynster Novels" now for about 1 year. Although i have read 6 of the 11 books, I must say Vane is my new favorite character. Unlike the rest of the Cynster men, he is definatly less arrogant in his ways. The way he captures Patience's heart is by far the most romantic i have ever read "With my body, I thee worship. With my heart I thee adore. I love you. And if you want me to say it a thousand times, I will. Just as long as you'll be my wife" I got GOOSEBUMPS reading that. Bravo Stephanie Laurens!!! Another great read for Cynster lovers all over!!!! YOU MUST BUY THIS BOOK!!!!

I have enjoyed Stephanie Laurens, Cynters series. I can't wait to read more of them. A Rake's Vow was exciting. The way they was made for each other. The stubboeness they have had. The love that they share. I enjoy books that are written like Stephanie's. Thank you so much Stephanie for your books.