Publisher Comments :

Bold, passionate and possessive, the Cynster men let nothing stand in their way when it comes to claiming the women of their hearts.

Gerrard Debbington, Vane Cynster's brother-in-law, is one of London's most eligible gentlemen. Uninterested in marriage, his driving passion is to paint the fabled gardens of Lord Tregonning's Hellebore Hall — an opportunity that is now at hand...if Gerrard agrees to create an honest portrait of Tregonning's daughter as well.

Gerrard chafes at wasting his talents on some simpering miss, only to discover that Jacqueline Tregonning stirs him as no other. Certainly, she is beautiful, but it is her passionate nature that strikes sparks with Gerrard's own, igniting desire and sweeping them into each other's arms, convincing Gerrard that he has found his ideal soul mate — the lady he must have as his wife.

But something is horribly wrong at Hellebore Hall. Evil and lies are reaching out to ensnare Jacqueline — and Gerrard will have to move Heaven and Earth to protect the remarkable woman who, for him, personifies the truth about love...

Synopsis:

The Cynster phenomenon continues with this new addition to the beloved series from the international bestselling author of "The Ideal Bride" and "The Perfect Lover."

Download Description

When New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens created the Cynsters, a phenomenon was born. Bold, passionate, and possessive, the Cynster men let nothing stand in their way when it comes to claiming the women of their hearts. Now, Stephanie Laurens has written her most romantic and powerful novel to date, one that dares tell The Truth About Love.

Gerrard Debbington is one of the chosen few -- the gentlemen who've learned their social and amorous skills at the feet of the masters. Handsome and wealthy, protégé and brother-in-law of Vane Cynster, Gerrard is part of the charmed Cynster family circle. One of the most eligible gentlemen in the ton, Gerrard is constantly besieged by offers from London's most sought-after beauties, but as the ton's foremost artistic lion, there's only one offer he wants to accept -- the chance to paint the fantastical but seldom-seen gardens of reclusive Lord Tregonning's Hellebore Hall.

That chance is dangled before Gerrard, but to grasp it he must fulfill Lord Tregonning's demand that he also create an open and honest portrait of the man's daughter. Gerrard loathes the idea of wasting his time and talents on some simpering miss, but with no alternative, he agrees ...

Only to discover that Jacqueline Tregonning inspires him as no other lady has. Certainly she is beautiful, but Gerrard is stunned by the deep emotions she stirs and is captivated by her passionate nature and innate goodness. He is soon convinced that Jacqueline is the soul mate he needs as his wife.

But something is horribly wrong at Hellebore Hall. Evil lurks in the beautiful gardens and along the rambling pathways. And that evil reaches out to ensnare Jacqueline, trapping her in a web of insidious whispers -- whispers that paint her as a double murderess.

The rumors are false, but someone is actively spreading them. Convinced that Jacqueline is innocent of all wrongdoing, Gerrard is confident his portrait will open others' eyes to the truth he sees, but when a long-dead body is discovered in the gardens, the campaign to blame Jacqueline escalates -- Gerrard and she are running out of time. The days they spend together lead to nights of sweeping passion -- and Gerrard vows to move heaven and earth to protect the woman who, for him, personifies the truth about love.

From Publishers Weekly

The latest in Laurens's beloved Cynster series takes a gothic turn, wrapping suspense and eroticism into a potent package. Dashing Gerrard Debbington is an acclaimed landscape painter, Lord Vane Cyster's protégé, and the ton's most eligible bachelor. All he lacks is the chance to paint the beautiful, unusual gardens at Hellebore Hall, the Cornwall home of reclusive Lord Tregonning. One day, the opportunity drops in his lap—so long as he agrees to also paint a portrait of Lord Tregonning's daughter. Reluctant to spend months in the company of a vapid society chit, Gerrard almost refuses, but the lure of the gardens proves too strong. At Hellebore Hall, Gerrard discovers that he's in deeper than he bargained for. Jacqueline, Lord Tregonning's daughter, is a remarkable young woman, and she inspires both his artistic passion and his love. She is also widely suspected to be the cause of two deaths: that of her former fiancé, who disappeared two years before, and her mother, who mysteriously fell to her death into the brooding Garden of Night. Lord Tregonning, convinced that a good portrait portrays the true nature of its subject, believes that Gerrard's depiction of Jacqueline will prove his daughter's innocence. So who is the real killer? The heat between Gerrard and Jacqueline sizzles and sparks, and the story consistently surprises in Laurens's best Regency yet. (Mar.)

From AudioFile

Laurens's popular Cynster series continues as portrait artist Gerrard Debbington agrees to paint the beautiful Jacqueline, daughter of Lord Tregonning of Hellebore Hall. Their portrait sessions are filled with hours of sweet lovemaking, and when Jacqueline is believed to have orchestrated the death of her mother, Gerrard is determined to capture her innocence in his painting. Elizabeth Sastre's sensitive narration gives credibility to the love scenes, even as she expertly varies intonation to differentiate the characters. The short intervals of classical music at the inception and conclusion of the novel are the perfect backdrop for the narrator's mastery of Laurens's prose. S.C.M.

About Author

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career, and her series about the masterful Cynster cousins has captivated readers, making her one of the romance world's most beloved and popular authors. She has also introduced the equally unforgettable members of the Bastion Club. She currently lives in a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, with her husband and two daughters.

Book Dimension:

length: (cm)16.6 　　　 　　　　　 　 width:(cm)12.2