When a handsome man literally falls at her feet while she's walking through a moonlit convent courtyard, Helena knows he must be there for a scandalous liaison. Yet she keeps his presence a secret from the questioning nuns - and for her silence the stranger rewards her with an enticing, unforgettable kiss. What Helena doesn't know was that her wild Englishman is Sebastian Cynster, Duke of St. Ives. Seven years later, Sebastian spies Helena from across a crowded ballroom. This heiress is dazzling London society with her wit and beauty, tantalising all the eligible men with the prospect of taking her hand in marriage. But Helena is not looking for just any husband. She wants an equal, a challenge - someone who can live up to the promise of that delicious, never-forgotten kiss.
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Amazon Review
One unforgettable night, Sebastian, the Duke of St Ives, stole a kiss from a beautiful young woman at a French convent. That is the prelude to Stephanie Laurens The Promise in a Kiss: A Cynster Christmas Novel. They didn't share their names but neither of them ever forgot the magic of that innocent kiss and when they meet again in London seven years later, each instantly recognises the other. Helena, the Comtesse d'Lisle, is searching for a manageable husband to thwart her controlling guardian, and Sebastian, a London rake who has sworn never to wed, is clearly not an appropriately biddable candidate. The lovely French comtesse is the one woman that can change Sebastian's view of marriage, but convincing Helena is a task that challenges even the powerful Duke of St Ives. While Sebastian is courting and seducing the reluctantly tempted Helena, her powerful guardian sets in motion a scheme that threatens the happiness of the lovers and endangers their lives.
In this tale of the passionate couple that parented the unforgettable Bar Cynster siblings, author Stephanie Laurens pulls out all the stops with high adventure, duelling swords, intrigue and sensual romance. Rounding out the novel with witty dialogue, great secondary characters, and detailed descriptions of the London society scene of 1783, Laurens gives readers another Cynster novel they're sure to love. --Lois Faye Dyer, Amazon.com --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Review
One unforgettable night, Sebastian, the Duke of St Ives, stole a kiss from a beautiful young woman at a French convent. That is the prelude to Stephanie Laurens The Promise in a Kiss: A Cynster Christmas Novel. They didn't share their names but neither of them ever forgot the magic of that innocent kiss and when they meet again in London seven years later, each instantly recognises the other. Helena, the Comtesse d'Lisle, is searching for a manageable husband to thwart her controlling guardian, and Sebastian, a London rake who has sworn never to wed, is clearly not an appropriately biddable candidate. The lovely French comtesse is the one woman that can change Sebastian's view of marriage, but convincing Helena is a task that challenges even the powerful Duke of St Ives. While Sebastian is courting and seducing the reluctantly tempted Helena, her powerful guardian sets in motion a scheme that threatens the happiness of the lovers and endangers their lives. In this tale of the passionate couple that parented the unforgettable Bar Cynster siblings, author Stephanie Laurens pulls out all the stops with high adventure, duelling swords, intrigue and sensual romance. Rounding out the novel with witty dialogue, great secondary characters, and detailed descriptions of the London society scene of 1783, Laurens gives readers another Cynster novel they're sure to love. (Lois Faye Dyer, Amazon.com )
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First Sentence
Collette had refused to divulge his name, her mad Englishman, yet there he stood, long, lean, and as handsome as ever, albeit seven years older. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
Collette had refused to divulge his name, her mad Englishman, yet there he stood, long, lean, and as handsome as ever, albeit seven years older. Read the first page Browse Sample Pages
Front Cover | Copyright | Excerpt | Back Cover
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful
By A Bookaholic
Format:Mass Market Paperback
I find Stephanie Laurens Bar Cynster group fantastic and cannot put their books down and until they are good and done, then I find myself going back to reread them later. 'The Promise in a Kiss' is no different. This one takes you back to the beginning with Helena and Sebastian. Of course you know how it turns out because there is Sylvester or 'Devil', however, that does not stop you from enjoying the steps taken for this incredible set of men to come to fruition. Fantastic if you are a historical romance buff he likes a little spice added in to the mix.
9 of 9 people found the following review helpful
Format:Mass Market Paperback
Confession: I have never read any of Stephanie Laurens' Bar Cynster series. I liked a couple of her other regency romances and decided to give this series a try. The Promise in a Kiss was written last, but is a prequel to all the other books, so it seemed to make sense to read it first. And that would have been okay, except that Laurens has a family tree right at the very start of the book. From that I learned two things which made this a doomed romance from the start.
One, Sebastian, the Duke of St Ives, has an affair resulting in an illegitimate child while he's married to Helena. So how can I believe in Helena and Sebastian's love affair after discovering that? I can see why people who have read the entire series also have a problem taking this book seriously.
Second, the family tree shows Sebastian as dead. Now this, I expect, applies to the later books in the Cynster series - but still, even before I've *read* his story, I know that Sebastian dies within about 30 years of the end of his book, leaving his Helena a widow.
It's difficult to get facts like these out of your mind when reading a romance novel, let me tell you!
Anyway, the book itself. Laurens is no Balogh or Beverley, my favourites of this genre, and she does tend to go overboard on the intimacy/sensuality in a manner which simply isn't right for the period, but it's done tastefully. Sebastian and Helena met for the first time when she was seventeen and he stole a kiss. They meet again six years later and know each other instantly. Helena thinks that Sebastian is a confirmed bachelor and enlists his help in finding a suitable husband; he knows that she's going to be his wife and he uses every trick he knows to persuade her...
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
By Lola
Format:Paperback
I had trouble getting past Sebastian's future infidelity revealed in the Bar Cynster series. At first, it didn't really play a big part in how I viewed the story. The beginning is captivating and holds a great deal of promise for the rest of the book. But towards the end, when the honesty and unfailing devotion come into play, it gets a little hard to swallow. I think Helena and Sebastian would have been better served to be written with less emphasis put on the 'powerful' nature of their characters. The reader expects their love to be just as powerful as they are themselves, and that characteristic is in direct opposition with a future already revealed. I am a fan of Laurens, and have read the entire Cynster series. Aside from the inconsistencies between this and the later novels, this is not one of the better books she has written. I found myself easily putting it down at the slightest distraction, skipping paragraphs and wondering how far ahead I could go without losing the train of the story.
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By R. Wong
Format:Mass Market Paperback
This is my 2nd time reading Stephanie Laurens. I vaguely remember readinganother one of her books before, but it was forgetable. I decided to giveher books a try again, since so many readers obviously love her...
I was not disappointed. The Promise in a Kiss is definitely a greatread...I like the idea of two powerful people in a power tassle, bothattracted towards each other, and yet, unsure and unwilling to relinquishtheir power to each other.
It is exceedingly refreshing to read about a proud, french aristocrat whoknows her own worth. I can imagine her growing old - she'll be one ofthose powerful dowagers you hear about, charming, yet utterly in controlof herself and the people around her. Managing, yet done with subtlety.
I am definitely eager to read more about the Cynster family. Altho Iconfess seeing the family chart at the beginning makes me wonder how itcould be that the Duke ended up having an affair and another child withhis mistress. Especially since in this story, we are witnesses to theferocity of his love towards his Duchess. I'll have to read the rest ofthe Cynster series to find out...maybe the author will find some reasonthat can exonerate the Duke. But I for one am never a willing believer inadultery in a marriage, especially when two people claim to passionatelyin love.
I was not disappointed. The Promise in a Kiss is definitely a greatread...I like the idea of two powerful people in a power tassle, bothattracted towards each other, and yet, unsure and unwilling to relinquishtheir power to each other.
It is exceedingly refreshing to read about a proud, french aristocrat whoknows her own worth. I can imagine her growing old - she'll be one ofthose powerful dowagers you hear about, charming, yet utterly in controlof herself and the people around her. Managing, yet done with subtlety.
I am definitely eager to read more about the Cynster family. Altho Iconfess seeing the family chart at the beginning makes me wonder how itcould be that the Duke ended up having an affair and another child withhis mistress. Especially since in this story, we are witnesses to theferocity of his love towards his Duchess. I'll have to read the rest ofthe Cynster series to find out...maybe the author will find some reasonthat can exonerate the Duke. But I for one am never a willing believer inadultery in a marriage, especially when two people claim to passionatelyin love.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
A kiss is exchanged and she saves him from being discovered.
Years later when Helena under the control of her controlling Guardian, Fabian, is sent to London to find a husband. She meets Sebastian Cynster again, and love and passion eventually conquer all, but not before Sebastian assists Helan in rescuing her sister from Fabian's clutches....she even gets wounded by her guardian when she puts herself between their rapiers.
This isn't the first of the Cynster novels ~and like all of them is a stand alone piece ~ it is actually the start of the Bar Cynster.
Another thorough good read, and a big fat 5 out of 5 for me, and not one to be missed.
Years later when Helena under the control of her controlling Guardian, Fabian, is sent to London to find a husband. She meets Sebastian Cynster again, and love and passion eventually conquer all, but not before Sebastian assists Helan in rescuing her sister from Fabian's clutches....she even gets wounded by her guardian when she puts herself between their rapiers.
This isn't the first of the Cynster novels ~and like all of them is a stand alone piece ~ it is actually the start of the Bar Cynster.
Another thorough good read, and a big fat 5 out of 5 for me, and not one to be missed.
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3.6 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stephanie Laurens - The Promise in a Kiss
A very good read. A first class novel. Well recommended. Stephanie Laurens never disappoints to do a good story. A writer that you look forward to the next book available.
Published 3 months ago by Geordie
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good story
This is the prelude to the Cynster series of novels.
It is a good tale and happily lacks most of the "gushing" vocabulary that mars for me Ms Laurens later books.
It is a good tale and happily lacks most of the "gushing" vocabulary that mars for me Ms Laurens later books.
Published 3 months ago by Dr M D Greenhill
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Promise in a Kiss
Really enjoyed reading the book, quite an incredible imagination. Found myself losing track of time and finding it hard to put the book down
.
.
Published 4 months ago by Agnes
4.0 out of 5 stars
Review for Promise in a Kiss
I enjoyed this book immensely. It fits into the series quite nicely even though it is all about how the Cynster dynasty starts and if like me you are reading the books in order... Read more
Published 4 months ago by Jools
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Promise in a kiss. Stephanie Lauren's
Her books gives me an insight to a family that were strong yet very caring. Sebastian and Helena almost make it real.
Published 6 months ago by fifs
4.0 out of 5 stars
Enjoyed it
The book came up to expectations - a good read and would recommend it to readers of such novels = nine out of ten
Published 7 months ago by D. Harding
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent
This is one of Stephanie Lauren's better books with enough background story to keep the pace without distracting from the core love story unlike her later novels.
Published on 29 July 2009 by S. J. McCartney
3.0 out of 5 stars
I just did not like this book.
I thought the characters were flat and uninteresting and the writing formulaic and uninspiring. This really wasn't worthy of Stephanie Laurens and author whom I have always... Read more
Published on 4 Feb 2008 by Shawna Lanne
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