On a Wild Night

One a Wild Night
3 Stars

After months of failing to find a suitable husband from amongst the ranks of willing candidates, Amanda Cynster and her twin, Amelia are at their wits end. Deciding to broaden the field, Amanda enters the more unsavory environs of the ton to seek her mate, only to discover that she is in over her head. When things take a dangerous turn, Amanda is rescued by the enigmatic and secretive Earl of Dexter who, unfortunately, is not inclined to marry. Will Amanda be able to change his mind?

While the book starts out well, the pacing deteriorates toward the middle as the hero and heroine try to out-stubborn each other. The story picks up again at the end with the minor suspense plot, which is actually quite compelling. It show more is just a pity that its development and resolution come so late in the book after the endless descriptions of will she/ won't she, which are completely unnecessary.

Amanda is not the most likeable of heroines. Not only is she stubborn and willful in the extreme, she is also manipulative and not above using others to get her own way. Nevertheless, one cannot help but admire her determination to decide her own future; although it does require a healthy suspension of disbelief to accept that she would be allowed to swan about in all manner of disreputable places.

Martin is a typical Laurens' hero - a rake with a heart of gold, overly protective instincts and possessive tendencies. The scandal associated with his name has some truly heart-breaking consequences, but the investigation into the truth behind it takes too long to get going.

The romance is certainly hot, but Laurens wastes several excellent opportunities to ratchet up the sexual tension before the main act. Moreover, the number of sex scenes are excessive and repetitive. Less is often more in this area!

The cameo appearances by the Cynster cousins and their wives are entertaining although it is Lady Osbaldestone who steals the show.

All in all, not one of the better installments in the series. Hopefully, Amelia and Luc's book will be an improvement. show less

This story is part of the Cynster series, this time one of the Cynster Females. Amanda is 23, pretty much on the shelf but she wants someone like her cousins as a love, however that isn't easy to find. She decides that she's going to find love in unusual places and delves into the underbelly of the Beau Monde, visiting those places considered a bit risky.

Yes, there are sections of the book and the plot that are great fun, but there are also chunks thata just made me want to beg the writer why? I liked Martin, Lord Dexter, he was a great fun character, but really there were times that his angst made me think he was 15!

There's a good book lurking under the overwriting. Much of the plot is interesting but some of it felt like filler. show more Rather like many films that could be half-an-hour shorter this book could have shed 100-200 pages and been a tighter read. show less

This is my favorite Cynster Novel. Stephanie Laurens style gets repetitive very quickly, and after reading many Cynster and Bastio novels, I was surprised how much I liked this one. My favorite part is the first chapter where Amanda goes into the gaming hell. The moment when the leading man gives her his card and says, "who else?" really struck me as a memorable book moment!

This is Amanda Cynster's story. The twins have decided they are never going to find the husband they want in the ballrooms of London. They each come up with a plan to find their mates and set out to make sure they get what they want. Amanda's plan is to go to the less desirable places within society. She meets Martin Fulbridge and decides that this is the man who will be her future husband.

Amanda is a clever girl and intelligent enough to know that she has to be careful to not let Martin know what she is up to. She is all Cynster and she shows it in many ways that will have you laughing and at some points cheering. I love that she isn't a flighty miss. When a friend and her coachman ate injured she doesn't go into hysterics. She buckles show more down and does was has to be done to save their lives. She also knows that she has to help Martin find his way back to his heritage.

Martin has been through a lot and is still just living on the fringe of society. The scandal in his past makes him want to stay away from those who rejected him 10 years ago. I really liked Martin. He is an emotionally wound hero that must find a way to make things right. He finds that inspiration in Amanda. He is all alpha male. Martin could very well be a Cynster and is therefore perfect for Amanda.

These books, the Cynsters, are very fast reads and for fans of the spicier historical romances I think a must read. Ms. Laurens is a wonderful writer that makes her stories come alive in your imagination. Her characters are all amazing and even the secondary ones make you want their story. show less

I think this was more drawn out than it should have been, and the characters were foolish sometimes. But overall it was fine. It was kind of fun to have the heroine pursuing the hero, which isn't as common.

i liked it, it was good to read about someone other than the cynster males (who seem all the same). i wish laurens wouldnt try to turn every story into a 'whodunnit', the solutions aren't the most original.

Not the best example of Laurens' s imagination, I feel.
Amanda goes to a gaming hell to find the kind of man she wants for a husband and comes up with Martin. The rest of the book is just about that exciting. Not.
I must have bought the audio on sale without reading the paperback first. It is not on my list to reread.
Can't fault Simon Prebble's performance, though.