Saturday, January 24, 2009

Review for Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens

Where the Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens
No one can write a love scene like Stephanie Laurens.  I once read a review that criticized Laurens' long-winded love scenes, but I say....bring it on! Her prose is eloquent, her historical settings are fascinating, and yes, her love scenes are long.  But they are also beautifully and romantically written, with just the right amount of melodrama that we romance lovers have grown to expect and appreciate.  Starting with the wonderful Devil's Bride, Laurens has enthralled her fans with the Cynster series since 1998. Although she seemed to have lost her way a bit (the premise for Gerrard Debbington's book The Truth About Love was preposterous...but I digress!), she appears to be back on track with Where the Heart Leads, the story of Barnaby Adair and Penelope Ashford (and yes, I have a fondness for heroines with the name Penelope). I also have a penchant for heroines who wear glasses, or in this case "spectacles." Laurens has successfully woven her lovers' story, an intriguing mystery, and as always the fascinating backdrop of Regency London, into a well-crafted and sensual book. Laurens' fans will not be disappointed.  Grade: A
Sincerely, Penelope