Mastered By Love

A satisfying conclusion to the series, although wrapping up the "last traitor" was pretty rushed considering its been building for 8 books. Blink and you might miss it.

I always forget how much I enjoy this book until I reread it. I felt like this series as a whole had a bunch of books in the middle that I could take or leave. This was the perfect ending to the series.

Royce is the ultimate alpha male, but what would you expect from someone who has led a pack of alpha males throughout the war. Now with the war over he must return to take up his ducal role, but he won't be able to relax for long. The Grandes Dames of the ton have decreed that Royce must marry immediately. Luckily, Minerva his chatelaine is just the person to take him on.

From Stephanie Laurens first 'Bastion Club' novel, I've been fascinated by Dalziel. Finally, in "Mastered By Love", I get his story and it's a doozy. Why and how he became a 'shadow' in society and head of the British spies makes for a wonderful read and the woman he falls for is not at all what he expected. And for Cynster fans, Devil makes a few appearances!

Minerva has been the chatelaine of Wolverstone Castle for many years now. Informally adopted by the Duke's family after the death of her parents and raised with all the privileges of their name and family, she's never forgotten what she feels she 'owes' them. She was always fascinated by the heir, Royce, and her life lost color after his banishment. But deathbed promises are no show more small matter, and Minerva promised BOTH of Royce's parents (at separate times) to stay and help Royce settle into the Dukedom after his long absence. Of course, one of his first tasks MUST be to ensure the succession and once he marries, Minerva plans to leave. If she can only keep her heart safe until then!

Royce...how strange to use that name again after all this time. But oh, this is NOT how he imagined returning home would be. His plans were already made, but his father's sudden death means his learning curve will be steep and painful. How could he have forgotten Minerva? Well, in his defense, he doesn't remember her looking like THIS! But he knows his duty and it's to marry some cold, dutiful peeress who will breed his heir and a spare and then live their own life without bothering him. But after seeing his Bastion Club operatives find love and happiness, why does this plan seem so wrong? And even if he changes his mind, can he convince Minerva? And don't forget, there's still that last traitor to catch!

If you enjoy Laurens' writing style, you'll love "Mastered By Love". She does tend to be a bit wordy (!), but I still mainline her books as soon as they're released. This one may not be my favorite Bastion Club book, but it's close. Royce is such a complicated character and his relationship with Minerva is every bit of everything he had coming. Their attraction and the dilemma of tradition resonate on every page. Laurens can write breath-taking love scenes, if a bit long, but then again, sometimes longer is better, eh?

I was a bit disappointed with the sideline story of the last traitor. For something that played so largely in earlier books, it seemed a bit of a sidenote here. The majority of the book is ALL about Royce and Minerva and the danger of the traitor is really only expressed towards the very end and wrapped up fairly quickly. Dalziel/Royce's 'wooing' is not to be missed and even with its quirks, this book will go on my keeper shelf with the rest of the Bastion Club series. show less

Last in the Bastion series and finally the traitor is caught! Royce aka Dalziel resigns his commission and returns home after his father's death to his dukedom. He needs to marry quickly and father a son, so the Royal's don't snitch his fiefdom away. But the lady he wants, his chatelaine Minerva, doesn't want to marry him? And the elusive traitor is getting closer - and is a member of Royce's family. The traitor didn't get caught until the last 15 pages of the book - and abrupt ending.

I picked up the Australian release (which I thought had a nicer cover but I couldn't find a picture during my browsing so this is the one you get) at Target when I was away and was pleasantly suprised by this one. The last few offerings from Laurens have been a bit ho-hum for me. Too much saying the same thing. In different ways. In short sentences. Over and over. Again. Repetitively. Maybe I'd had just enough of a break between her stories to enjoy this one. No, on second thought, this was just a better book. I liked it so much better than the previous few I'd read (including the 2 of the Black Cobra books I listened to on audio). It wasn't quite a return to the heights of Devil's Bride but it was up there. Thinking back, the other show more books I've read of hers lately all had the trope where the hero didn't want to admit his feelings to his lady because of some lame and weirdass belief that would make him somehow vulnerable. Frankly, I'm over that as a plot device (if I ever bought into it). Refreshingly, this one is where the family history is that the Varisey's don't love - aren't capable of it (Oh noes! I'm channelling Laurens!). And, while that's (of course), a load of old cobblers, the hero believed it and so did everyone else in the book's world and it wasn't that he didn't want to or couldn't admit it once he recognised it. So, extra points for that. I quite liked Royce and Minerva and I really enjoyed this book. B show less

Dalziel was the head of the area of the War Office that managed the espionage operatives during the Napoleonic wars. Now the wars are over and Dalziel has watched each of his friends, one by one, find a bride and settle down to a normal life. But can he? He joined the service of his country in his youth and for that his father ceased all communication with him. Now when he no longer needs to work in the War Office, he resigns his commission and plans to head home to try to restore his relationship with his father, but he is too late. Just as he is packing to leave he receives notice that his father has died and his is now the new Duke of Wolverstone.

Royce Varisey arrives at his ancestral home and is met by Minerva Chesterton, the woman show more who served as his father's chatelaine and his mother's companion until her death. He remembers her only as a child but as the time passes and he begins t take up the reigns of control for his estates, he realizes that she is the woman that he needs to share his life, but she has other ideas.

This story is probably one of Stephanie Laurens' best because she takes a character that has been a mystery throughout the series (Bastion Club) and finally identifies who he is and why he is the way he is. Watching the interaction between the characters and reviving those from stories past, makes a rich and vibrant tale of love and romance mixed with intrigue. I'm not sure that it would be as enjoyable as a standalone novel, but having read all the others that preceded it, he was terrific! show less

Mastered by Love - Laurens
3 stars

The mysterious last traitor finally revealed, foiled, and dispatched. Dalziel’s hidden identity exposed to all. The most sexually explicit (and repetitive) content in the series. I enjoyed the near drowning and heroic rescue of the farm worker’s child. Lady Osbaldestone makes another appearance as the meddling Gran Dame. The rap up was satisfying; a dramatic abduction and rescue at the wedding with a reunion of all the characters from the previous books.