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| Author: Stephanie Laurens
Publisher: HarperLuxe
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $14.38
You Save: $10.57 (42%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  17 reviews
Sales Rank: 747097
Format: Large Print
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 672
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.7
Dimensions (in): 8.9 x 6 x 1.4
ISBN: 0061469254
Dewey Decimal Number: 823.92
EAN: 9780061469251
ASIN: 0061469254
Publication Date: February 1, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 A Truly Delightful 19th Century Mystery! March 17, 2008
8 out of 10 found this review helpful
Where the Heart Leads is considered the 15th book in the Cynsters Family Saga, and although the Casebook of Barnaby Adair is mentioned on the cover, that is the true nature of the book. Cynster fans, looking for a story like the earlier passionate and heart stopping handsome Cynster males sensually pursuing strong beautiful ladies, made-to-be Cynster brides, may be left just a bit disappointed. That is not to say that Stephanie Lauren's most recent book is not extremely well-written with characters of depth, it is just that after a while the whole Cynster mystique gets diluted so much down the line of cousins and siblings of Cynster relations that the reader now has to expect something different; and this story is different, not close to the original fabulous Cynster novels that were written early on. Those will always remain favorites for romance fans and collectors.
No one knows the Regency Period and 19th century more than Stephanie Laurens; especially when she wrote a few Cynster novels with storylines about the rare and extremely interesting horse racing world that took place during the period. Now she entertains and educates readers further with her knowledge of what it is like behind the glittering ballrooms, gentlemen clubs, shining ladies in silks and rogues outfitted in Hessians and superfine. During this period there were those that suffered while others lived lives of leisure. In this book we see how the other side lives.
Portia Cynster started a Foundling School for Orphans that aids poor orphans after the death of their only living relative, which was the focus of another Cynster novel and mentioned in some of the others. Now after marrying Simon and running a house and having children of her own, the responsibility of the school has been turned over to Penelope, Portia's sister. A beauty, but considered a bluestocking and a bit overwhelming to many gentlemen of the ton, Penelope has been dedicated to her work and has never thought of marrying, believing she would never be able to find the type of true love other Cynster women have found, especially in her unique position of running the school and having a rare intelligence and deep calling for social justice. Her feelings about love, passion, and even marriage begin to change a bit after four boys due to arrive at the school show up missing and she considers asking the third son of a nobleman, Barnaby Adair, well-known for solving mysterious cases of the ton, to consider helping her find these boys. As soon as she knocks on his door late one night she realizes that she is drawn to the handsome and intelligent Barnaby, and is more thrilled when she realizes he understands, respects and is not judgmental about her school, intelligence and involvement in social causes. What a coincidence that the stunning and intelligent Penelope shows up at Barnaby's door just when he is sitting alone in his parlor nursing a brandy and deciding what to do with his life that was once exciting and now seems to hold no appeal anymore. To him it is love at first sight, but he knows he must move carefully and allow Penelope to realize they were meant to be together so that he doesn't lose her and his one chance at finally finding a woman that is his equal and worthy to be his wife.
Barnaby obtains the aid of his friend Basil Stokes, of Scotland Yard, and together with an East End woman, Griselda Martin, who worked her way up from the poor East End to becoming a successful tradeswoman as a milliner, the two couples work together to solve the case of the missing boys and the discovery of a burglary school that is snatching them away as soon as they are orphaned before they can make it to the school. The danger intensifies as murders begin to take place before the children can be orphaned and are snatched, while at the same time love and passion are blooming for the two couples.
This story is a delightful change for Ms. Laurens and hopefully the fans of the Cynster books will realize that there are just so many Cynsters and the originals and their storylines would lose being unique, if every story was similar. This book, like "An Unwilling Conquest," brings out the unique talent and unlimited knowledge base of Stephanie Laurens that expands way beyond the Cynster family.
 Where the Heart Leads: From the Casebook of Barnaby Adair (Cynster Novels) March 11, 2008
0 out of 3 found this review helpful
It came in about 2 days, it was great. I really enjoyed the book
Not my favorite Cynster book March 11, 2008
4 out of 5 found this review helpful
From all objective criteria, I should have adored this book. Smart female heroine; hero finds her sexy for her mind even more than her looks; mystery to solve that doesn't involve deep dark secrets of the lead characters. And I 'm a big fan of Stephanie Laurens and the Cynster series. What more could anyone ask?
That's why I was so puzzled when I found the book just average. (Granted, average for Stephanie Laurens is much better than a lot of writers manage.) I guess it was almost too intellectual and not enough emotional: Penelope wanted to have sex with Barnaby because she was curious, not for any emotional connection. (Not to mention that neither character gave any consideration to the prospect of her getting pregnant, though Barnaby planned to marry her even before they were intimate.) I don't read romance novels for the sex scenes: I want the romance, the vicarious thrill of two people (or two couples in the case of this book) falling in love. I didn't get that "zing" from this book, unlike many of the prior Cynster books.
However, if this is going to be the start of a series where the four main characters solve mysteries, I think I could get to enjoy it because the mystery portion of the book was much better for me than the romance part.
Love Cynster stories March 11, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
As usual, Stephanie Laurens does another phenominal job, not only capturing the reader, but keeping the reader riveted. Good to see Barnaby find his match!
I just love Stephanie Laurens March 10, 2008
0 out of 1 found this review helpful
I have all of her Cynster novels and they just make my day. I can escape into another time and place and know that although I would probably have been the scullery maid --I can imagine myself the heroine
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