Romance Readers Reading Challenges discussion

Stephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka, which was at the time the British colony of Ceylon. When she was 5, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she was raised. After continuing through school and earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in Australia, Laurens and her husband moved to Great Britain, taking one of the last true overland journeys from Katmandu to London.

Once in London, Laurens and her husband both began work as research scientists in Kent. They lived in an area surrounded by history. Their own cottage was built in the 16th century, while next door were the protected ruins of an early Roman villa, and nearby was a 14th-century castle.

After four years in England, Laurens and her husband returned to Australia, where she continued to work in cancer research, eventually heading her own research laboratory. One evening Laurens realized that she did not have any more of her favorite romance novels to read. After years of thinking about writing her own novel, during nights and weekends for the next several months she began crafting her own story. That manuscript, Tangled Reins, was the first of her books to be published. After achieving a level of success with her novels, Laurens "retired" from scientific research and became a full-time novelist. Her novels are primarily historical romances set in the Regency time period.

Laurens and her husband live in Melbourne with their two daughters, Stephanie and Lauren.

Stephanie's GR page is here: Stephanie Laurens


Challenge Task: Read one book written by our featured author, Stephanie Laurens.
Challenge Duration: The whole month of June.

To sign up:
Post your interest and the book you are planning to read. You can join us at any time before or during the challenge month.

You must also signify if you are:
A - I'm a big fan! I'm excited to read another of her books.
B - Familiar with her work, and wouldn't mind reading her again.
C - Totally new to this author. Will see how I like it.
D - Didn't like the last one I've read, but willing to give it another chance.

To complete:
Post the date when you've completed your book.

You must also say if, after reading:
A - would definitely look at her other books, since I've enjoyed this one very much.
B - could take it or leave it. Was not an unpleasant experience but I'm not burning rubber to get to her other books.
C - Oh well, I tried. Definitely not my cup of tea.

A little review of the book read is welcomed but not required.

Where we started:


A: Must buy author!
√ Leslie
Elise
√ Susanq
√ Lynne
Cassandra M
√ Harlequin

B: Happy to read when convenient
√ Jane(PS)
√ Lacy
√ Patricia
√ BJ Rose
√ KarenF
Sandra
√ Yz
√ Pam


C: Newby reader
√ Breann
Tiff
√ KarenH
√ Brett
√ Jane
√ MountainKat
Skandia
√ Irina
√ Suzanne
√ Cassandra (vampiregoth)
√ Angie
√ Elizabeth
√ Ashwag
AlbertaJenn
√ Kari
√ Fernanda
√ Valorie
√ Vi


D: Strictly library - no cash spent
Dee
√ Roxy

Who finished:


A: Absolutely always
Susan(q) (A) - Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue
Harlequin Books (KimS) (A) - An Unwilling Conquest
Yz (B) - A Secret Love
Leslie (A) - The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae
Angie (C) - Devil's Bride
Pam (B) - And Then She Fell
Vi (C) - Devil's Bride
Susanq (A) - In Pursuit of Miss Eliza Cynster
Lacy (B) - Captain Jack's Woman
Jane (C) - Devil's Bride
Ashwag (C) - Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue
Lynne (A) - The Perfect Lover


B: Sometimes
JanePS (B) - The Promise in a Kiss
Brett (C) - Devil's Bride
Cassandra (C) - The Untamed Bride
KarenH (C) - Devil's Bride
Kari (C) - Devil's Bride
Elizabeth (C) - Devil's Bride
Roxy (D) - Devil's Bride
Fernanda (C) - Impetuous Innocent
MountainKat (C) - Devil's Bride
BJ Rose (B) - Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue
Patricia (B) - Devil's Bride
Suzanne (C) - The Untamed Bride


C: Never
Irina (C) - The Lady Chosen
Valorie (C) - Impetuous Innocent
KarenF (B) - A Rogue's Proposal
Breann (C) - The Untamed Bride

I'm in and I'm a 'B' - I'll read one of the Cynster books I think. Or maybe Captain Jack. Or maybe The Promise in a Kiss. ...LOL - maybe I'll let the monthly challenge categories decide for me ;)

i'm somewhere between a B and a D - does that count...I used to read her books as soon as they were released...but recently...blech...

Hmm - IDK Dee. Guess you have to do eeny, meeny, miney, mo... ;)

I guess i'll go D - since they have been more hit than miss before I stopped reading

I haven't read one of her books in awhile! I'm a B and I will read either , , or .

I'm in and I'm a C. I'll decide what to read when I check out the used bookstore :)

I'm a C! Will be reading Devil's Bride. ;)

I'm in, and I'm a C...checking the library to see what's available.

I'm a D. I read and didn't love it. The comments on the Cynster Sister trilogy series are not very complimentary... I'm not sure if I should try another Cynster book, like or a different series.

I liked Devil's Bride but I haven't really read many of SL's books. I haven't read ANY of her newer books...

I'm a C. I will be reading .

Love this author! Pretty sure I've read everything she has written so this will be a re-read for me. So I am an A. I'll look over my books and decide which one to read.

I'm a C. I will be reading Devil's Bride (Cynster, #1).Devil's Bride

I think I'm a C - might have read something by her in an anthology, but I'm not sure. I'll read something, don't know what yet. =)

I'm a C. I will be reading

I'm in. Haven't read her in a while so make me a B and I'll see what I come up with to read. I think I have a few of books if not there's always the library.

Hmm - I used to be an 'A' with her early Cynster books and the Bastion Club series, but lately I'm more of a 'B' - I buy them used and read them when I get around to it. I have so I'll read that.

I'm a B. I adored but have been kind 'meh' on anything else by her I've read.

I'll pick up where I left off with the Cynsters and read

I'm a C I'll be reading

I'm in and I'm an A

Need to figure out which book is next on the list of me Thx

I'm in and I'm a C. Not sure what I'm going to read but I'll pick something, hopefully one with Pirates.

I'm an A! I've been working my way through the Cynster series, so I'll read the next one where I am :)

An A for sure! I have read all her books, including the newest Cynster Not sure what to read at the moment but maybe I will revisit Devil. Loved him!

I'm a C. I think I'll read

I'm an A, I look for anything that has her name on it and read it... and if I don't care for it- I do keep an open mind about the story line because what I may be 'into' at the time may not be someone else's vibe... so hey it's all good!!!! But my all time fav The Cynster's Series- Devils Bride...ohh yes ma'am....my very first SL story!!!!

I'm a C and I'm going to read :)

I am a C and I'll probably read

I'm in. I used to be an A but now I'd say I'm a B. Loved everything from Tangled Reins to the end of the Bastian Club.

Didn't love the newer ones and haven't read anything of hers for a while, though Devil's Bride is still one of my favourites.

I've still got a couple sitting on the shelf I haven't read yet, will decide when I read it and report back ;)

I'm in. I am a C & will be reading .. looks interesting!

I've never done a FAC before. I'm in! I'm a C, and I think I will read Devil's Bride, since it is the first of her most popular series.

AlbertaJenn wrote: "I've never done a FAC before. I'm in! I'm a C, and I think I will read Devil's Bride, since it is the first of her most popular series."

Hey Jenn - good to see you here :)

Hope I'm not too late. I'll join with Devil's Bride, I'm a C. Thanks!

Never too late! ...Well, so long as it isn't after the end of the challenge month_June :)

I'm a B. I think I only read one of her books, . I'm not sure yet what I will read for the challenge.

I finished reading and I'm going to say I am a C. I lost interest reading that book only finished it because it was a part of this challenge.

Finished I liked it more than the last few I've read by her. I'm anxious to get to the next one!

ETA still an A!

I'm definitely an A!

I just finished re-reading June 2nd (love the new cover for this classic). I love Stephanie Lauren's characters and re-read her books all the time.

In An Unwilling Conquest, Harry Lester finds himself in need of fleeing London and the matchmaking mamas after getting a large inheritance. He runs to Newmarket only to meet a widow, Mrs. Lucinda Babbacombe, who is very independent. She intrigues him and he can't seem to stop himself from getting involved in her life which she definitely doesn't think she wants or needs. I enjoy their disagreements and adore how Harry finally convinces her that she needs him almost as much as he needs her. ~ Kim S.

I just finished and I love it. It reminds me of how much I used to love historicals. It's in the middle of a series, but I felt like I had no problems understanding the story.

I just went from B to A.

Hi
I'm in and I'm a C, but I'm not sure what I'm going to read...

Just finished
I had not read this one before. It is the third in a spin-off from the Cynster series and I loved it! I started an A and remain an A.

I read the other day (audiobook). I'm staying a 'B'. There was a lot of internalized dialogue and repetition that tended to bore me; and boy, those sex scenes can really drag! But I haven't totally given up on Laurens. No doubt I'll read another book in the Cynster series one day :)

I finished and found the main female character TSTL. There were a few times I had to stop myself from throwing the book across the room. I'm not a big fan of historicals, unless there is a man in a kilt, vampire, or were involved. Regency historicals are especially cringe-worthy for me, so I'm not surprised I didn't enjoy it. I started as a C and finish as a C.

Just finished, Devil's Bride. I thought it was ok. I liked it, but there were some parts I skimmed over. The first half, Honoria, bugged the hell of me. I do want to read the other books tho. I liked Vane in this book. So, I started as a C and I am ending as a B.

Just finished reading . 3.5 stars. I liked it, but felt a little lost, since there are quite a few characters from other series she's written in this book and I didn't know any of them. I will be continuing this series at some point, but it's not a huge rush. I finish as a B.

I finished Devil's Bride today, and gave it 3 stars. I liked the storyline and the characters, but wasn't particularly fond of the writing style - it seemed to drag a lot in places. I listened to the audio version, narrated by Simon Prebble, and overall the narration was quite good. The only problem I had was I didn't like his voice for the hero - to me it sounded way too old...more like you would expect the crotchety older uncle to sound than the hero! :D

I started as a C and I'm ending up as a B - I wouldn't mind revisting this series at some point in the future, but I'm not in any big hurry.

I finished reading . I went from C to B. I liked it but did not love it, gave it 3 stars. I do want to read the other books at some point because the secondary characters (Cynster Bar) were great.

I finished Devil's Bride and gave it 3.5 stars. It was a funny read,I enjoyed it, although I would prefer it to be a bit shorter. I liked Devil's arrogance and I'd like to read some other book of the series sometime in the future.
So, I was a C and ending a B.