What Price Love?

I enjoyed this one. It's about half the length of most of the others in the series, and I think that made it feel more focused and less bogged down. Also, because of the length, there didn't need to be a bunch of relationship angst in the third quarter to keep the drama going for another hundred pages or something. So instead, it was just a teensy blip and then they moved on. I liked that much more. Also the couple seemed more evenly matched than most of the previous books, which I greatly preferred as well.

What Price Love?
4 Stars

Series note: This is book #13 in numerical order but book #16 in chronological order. While the plot itself is standalone, there are references to events from book #4.

The focus is once again on a Cynster brother-in-law. In this case, the hero is Dillon Caxton, Felicity Cynster's cousin (book #4). After a severe indiscretion in his youth, Dillon has dedicated his life to restoring his reputation and serves as the keeper of the Stud Register for the Newmarket racing commission. Amidst suspicions that race-fixing is afoot, Dillon encounters Miss Pris Dalling, who is intent on seeing the register. A battle of wills ensues as Dillon is just as determined to thwart her goal and learn her secrets. Is she somehow show more involved in a crime, and how far will she go to see the register? Dillon is about to find out.

Felicity and Demon's book is one of my few five-star SL reads, and while Pris and Dillon's isn't quite as good, it does hit all the right notes.

To begin with, Dillon and Pris's romance is different in tone from most of the other couples in the series due to the adversarial nature of their relationship and the fact that they are constantly trying to manipulate one another. Their verbal sparring is engaging and they have an intense physical and emotional bond.

Similar to Gerrard and Jacqueline's book, there is a darker undertone to the mystery and especially the final chapters where the truly despicable villain kidnaps Pris and arranges for her to be gang raped.

Overall, the last few books have been a significant improvement both in plotting, characterization and even in writing (although it is still too long-winded and repetitious). I hope the rest of the series continues in this vein. show less

I actually really liked this book. I absolutely love Dillon; he was the perfect MMC.

The downfall is Pris, who is super beautiful, and she knows it. I found her exasperating. She’s beautiful. So beautiful, in fact, that she can’t get over how beautiful she is. Pris goes through life knowing she’s beautiful and how convinced she is she can use her beauty to get her way.. and did I mention she was beautiful? Also, how convinced she is that Dillon doesn't love her... after he's told her he loves her.

Again, I did like the book, the storyline, Dillon, the darker themes, higher stakes.
But any time Pris got into her head, I just couldn't deal with her personality.

Content Warning: There is a threat of gang show more rape

♡◜✧˖°*:･ﾟ✧
🌶️: 3/5 show less

I enjoyed this one. It's about half the length of most of the others in the series, and I think that made it feel more focused and less bogged down. Also, because of the length, there didn't need to be a bunch of relationship angst in the third quarter to keep the drama going for another hundred pages or something. So instead, it was just a teensy blip and then they moved on. I liked that much more. Also the couple seemed more evenly matched than most of the previous books, which I greatly preferred as well.

With a slow start and at over 450 pages, I was prepared to be disappointed in this latest Cynster novel. Boy, am I glad I stuck in there.

The action picks up and builds to a nice charged pace that, although somewhat predictable, is very satisfying. An original concept for dealing with the villain gives the story an added depth.

The romance is fast and furious, or is that the sex? Stephanie Laurens fulfills on the Cynster premise of love at first lust, and with excellently descriptive passages of both action and motivation for the hero and heroine, What Price Love? is a solid addition to the series.

Romances are read to ease one's brain and stir up one's body. The best romances encite one to wake up one's husband from the inspiration provided. Stephanie Laurens writes good, sexy romances. They are predictable in the path they take -- strong woman taken on by a stronger man. She has a huge emphasis on the inevitability of their being together combined with the fact that they both must chose to be together in order to make it work. I just like her books. There is always a mystery to solve as well to keep the plot moving along. She's good and this book is good (but not one of the better) books in a very good series.

I adore this series!! Stephanie Laurens is a master at the Alpha Rake!! I love the men pursuing their ladies!!