Title: The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae
Series: Cynster Family bk 18 & Cynster Sisters bk 3
Author: Stephanie Laurens
Genre: Historical Romance
We joyfully request your attendance at the wedding of Miss Angelica Cynster … but not until she and her hero lay to rest an ancient grudge in the Scottish Highlands!
Headstrong Angelica Cynster is certain she’ll recognize her fated husband at first sight. And when her eyes meet those of a mysterious nobleman, she knows beyond a doubt that he’s the one. But her heart is soon pounding for an entirely different reason—when her hero abducts her!
The eighth Earl of Glencrae has no choice but to kidnap Angelica, the one Cynster sister with whom he hadn’t wanted to tangle. But to save his castle and his clan, he must persuade her to assist him—and he’s prepared to offer marriage to seal the deal!
This review is a by both Heather Byrony. They both read it and have different takes on this book.
Heather’s Review
One of my auto-buy historical authors is Stephanie Laurens. As soon as I discovered her years ago I had to read everything in this series. I think I read book seven first then had to go to the book store and buy each of the previous books. I was hooked and in love. There was something about those Cynster males that made me want one of my own, (shh don’t tell dh I said that). I have to say that while I have read every book in this series I have not liked everything.
This book reminded my why I and fell in love with this series in the first place. A hero and heroine who know who they are, have an external conflict that brings them together and they work together to resolve. Dominic and Angelica reminded me a lot of Devil and Honoria in how they behaved towards each other, with a bit of Scandal and Catriona, Amanda and Martin, and Amelia and Luc thrown in. Angelica is a character who knew what she wanted and went after it. She is very much a Cynster in the way she thinks and reacts to Dominic and why he has done what he has to her sisters. Dominic on the other hand has no clue what to make of Angelica other than she affects him in a way he isn’t used to. I do have to say one of my favorite parts of the book was when the rest of the Cynster’s were together trying to figure out where she was, and how the women and men behaved. This book is definitely one of my top 10 books of hers, and made me want to re-read the other’s books. If your a fan of this series then you will like if not love this book.
Grade A
Byrony’s Short Review
This is actually my first novel by Stephanie Laurens and–to be honest–I don’t think I’m motivated to check out any others anytime soon. I enjoyed the characters and there was enough romance (something which I sadly find to be lacking in many other “romance novels” lately), but all the same I had to force myself to finish The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae. My main issue with the story was that there didn’t seem to be enough conflict between the hero and the heroine to keep my interest; the heroine was always very smart and easily figured everything out, the hero reluctantly fell in love with her as par for the course–but that happened easily, too… In fact, the external conflict with the hero’s mother and the goblet seemed very anti-climactic as well. I wish I felt another way, but I was, to put it simply, bored. C
So there you have it, Heather loved it and Byrony didn’t, which is okay.
Heather’s Grade A
Byrony’s Grade C
For a complete list of the books in the series please visit Stephanie Laurens site.
I loved this one, the best book in the trilogy in my opinion. And yes, I felt it a refreshment from the last books which were just more of the same in my opinion. I have almost all of her books, some oldies are just not findable, and she has been autobuy for over 20 years now.
Byrony, would you perhaps have liked it better if you had started with the first one in the trilogy?