One of the Best Romance Novel Series: The Cynster Saga by Stephanie Laurens

Cynster novel #1 - Devil Cynster

Some of the first books for "grownups" I read were romance novels.  My mother had a select group she enjoyed, collected from the 70s and 80s offerings, on a special bookcase that hung over the back of her bedroom door.  (I can still remember my very first, which I later hunted down in a used bookstore, Bride of the MacHugh, instilling a love of all things Scottish) Working hard at the beck and call of lawyers and executives as a secretary, her escape were the costume dramas of Masterpiece Theatre and historical romance novels.

Cynster novel #2 - Vane Cynster

I loved them once initiated - the dresses, the rakes and rogues, the political intrigue keeping the lovers apart only to overcome all obstacles.  Later I realized the ridiculous devices demanded of the industry - the women were more like girls because they were so young and naturally they were all virgins. The language describing the sex was, in retrospect, hilarious with "throbbing manhoods" and other euphemisms that more confused than enlightened - but like any good genre fiction, the basic formula was a good one.

Because all genre fiction is formulaic.  Mysteries often have an interesting and complex protagonist, set in a time period or with a specialty, who has helpful sidekicks who assist him/her in ferreting out the "who dun it" effectively.  Historical romance, pardon me, good historical romance owes a lot of its appeal to its cross over tendencies.  It's hopefully good and well-researched historical fiction, so its references and social history are accurate.  Usually there is a mystery or political intrigue to satisfy those tendencies, and there is, without question, two protagonists who we care enough about to want to root them to live happily ever after.

Cynster Novel #3 - Scandal Cynster

So why are people so stuck up about romance novels?  I know men who read literally any Tom Clancy-esque political thriller (slap a hammer and sickle on it, a handsome but capable ex-Marine, and a love interest who admires herself naked in a mirror in the first 100 pages and they are on it) but have nothing but derision toward women who read romance.  Is it the ridiculous covers?  The torrid prose on the back of the book jacket?  Folks, those are all the publisher's doing (and rapidly becoming less common, thank heavens) and no more indicator of what's inside that book than the paper wrapper on your Big Mac means the sandwich inside is from a tree.

Probably the best modern author who epitomizes the skillful historical romance novel is Australian writer Stephanie Laurens, author of over 45 books, many of which have taken a turn on the New York Times Bestseller list.  Her best-loved series is known as the Cynster novels, a grouping of 15 plus books based on one family, the proud and tightly knit noble Cynsters led by the head of the family, the Duke of St. Ives, known as Devil to his family and friends.

Cynster novel #4 - Demon Cynster

Devil has one brother and four cousins (each with equally as disconcerting nicknames) similar in age and temperament and all six of them served together in France fighting Napoleon where they earned the moniker of "invincible" since they all returned without a scratch.  Close friends all and with similar rakish tendencies towards the ladies, they are known by the ton as the "Bar Cynster."

Laurens makes no bones about the fact that her attraction to the Regency era comes from the fact that it was a time of social flux, with enough leeway for the behavior of men and women (although there were naturally established rules in place to protect the virtue of well-born ladies) that interesting situations could occur that naturally would not in the later Victorian era.  Men of privilege were bold and demanding masters of their universe and women had not yet been beaten into submission so totally that they couldn't occasionally stand up for themselves, questioning the inevitability of marriage.  Laurens herself describes her style.  "It’s very much in the vein of Errol Flynn meets Jane Austen—lots of dashing derring-do grounded by a healthy dose of feminine common sense."

Cynster novel #5 - Gabriel Cynster

 It's this inevitability that the characters fight, both male and female.  Laurens is a godsend in that she believes in older characters (the ladies are usually in their mid to late twenties) and isn't unwilling to have the occasional female protagonist who isn't a virgin.  The women are strong and stubborn in their way, seeing no reason to be coaxed into a loveless marriage of convenience.  Her men, as she states in informational interviews in some of the supplemental material for her books, fall "in lust" at first with the woman in question, their possessive instincts to help and protect stirred.  The female protagonist, while attracted to the man, has no wish to surrender her independence, making her that much more of a challenge and prize to be won.  In the course of trying to win her body, the male gets to know her and she him, with the result being  they fall in love.

Cynster novel #6 - Lucifer Cynster

The Cynster family motto is "To Have and To Hold" (love that!) and it is interpreted by the author as pertaining to both a passionate love of the land and of family.  With so many romance novel heroes being cold and calculating, the humanity and warmth demonstrated by the Cynster family's love and affection for one another - these men are friends as well as relatives - is one of the reasons this series stands out from the typical historical romance offering.  Readers fall in love not just with the two protagonists, but with the whole family, caring deeply about what happens to the characters not just in the book focused on them, but in subsequent books as well.

Cynster novel #6 - Gyles Rawling

Laurens uses a deft hand at interweaving the books and keeping continuity (check out her chronology placing all her books from this and other series, in order by year of event).  One of the tried and true formulas of her books is that she establishes the two major protagonists and the reason they are drawn together (a conflict or mystery to be solved with the characters helping one another as they fall in love).  About two-thirds through the book, the Cynster calvalry is called in, with the previous characters and family members introduced to help solve the problem and offer backup.  The object of Cynster affection then sees the affection between family members and further knows that this is a family they can trust and be part of, further sealing the deal.

Cynster novel #7 - Sebastian and Helena Prequel

While there certainly is intrigue and occasionally crime to propel the plot, the obstacles to the future of the characters are largely emotional.  The woman does not want to give up her independence; the man hesitates to admit to the weakness of "love."  A quality I love about Laurens writing is that she uses her fiery sex scenes to reveal the emotional progress of her characters.  She understands how the physical act of love can unlock emotions and reveal the truth of feelings long-buried.

Cynster novel #8 - Amanda Cynster

It's not just the main characters which are well-drawn.  The minor characters in these novels are incredibly complex and three-dimensional, doing an excellent job furthering the plot and giving depth to the scene.  Lady Osbaldstone, the blunt and all-seeing grand dame of the ton, is a recurring character in most of the books who is a personal favorite.  The younger siblings of many of the love interests (or young Cynsters) are written so well that they are able to be easily fleshed out in later novels as they reach an age of falling in love which seems like great planning and writing to me.

Cynster novel #9 - Amelia Cynster

In addition to well-drawn characters, it's a profound pleasure to read Laurens books because of the level of historical accuracy she attains.  Laurens admits that this was of necessity initially in her career as her original contract for Regency romances were published by a British firm that insisted on the utmost accuracy (I gather those British readers, surrounded by Regency settings, are real sticklers for historical details). 
 
In addition to the obvious historical references (this is a great way for someone to be introduced to the controversy surrounding the Corn Laws in early 19th century history), the language (including colloquialisms and idiom) are correct.  The horse references and ton etiquette are a fabulous bonus for someone interested in this period.  Laurens admits the only area she takes license with in her desire to bump up the introduction of buttons, particularly for male shirts.  It's hard to get your male protagonist out of his clothes fast enough without those darn buttons!

Cynster novel #10 - Simon Cynster

The first ten books deal with actual Cynsters, all of whom you meet in the first 50 pages of the first book.  By the time we get to books 8, 9, and 10 we are learning about characters who were lanky teens in the first book but are coming into their Cynster legacy with abandon.  Books 11 through 15 are the "in-laws", the younger brothers of Cynster brides now searching for their own perfect mates.  (Don't worry, Laurens is nice enough to give us a genealogy chart to keep track of all the matches and their children.)

Having seen video interviews with Stephanie Laurens, it was a jolt to discover that's not her actual name.  Theonne Anne De Kretser took her pseudonym from the names of her two daughters, Stephanie and Lauren when she decided to begin writing romance novels.  Like other great romance novelists (like Diana Gabaldon of Outlander fame), De Kretser comes from a strong scientific background, possessing a Ph.D. in Biochemistry.  Running a laboratory during the day, she found her relaxation and escape in the form of romance novels.  When she realized she had read all the regency romances currently in print, she decided she would write one for herself.  When she finished, she realized it was good enough that she could approach a publisher, and the rest was history.

Cynster novel #16 - Heather Cynster

Profuse thanks to that publisher for realizing they had found a good author!  It's certainly worth mentioning that the excellent Bastion Club series takes place during much of the Cynster saga, containing a certain amount of cross-over.  Both the Bastion and Cynster series have characters that crossover to Laurens most recent works, the Black Cobra Quartet, which Laurens has been most recently occupied producing.  So it's extremely exciting that in the next 8 months we can expect three additions to the Cynster saga, dealing with original Cynster girls who are now all grown up and ready for love.  In a trilogy, Heather, Eliza and Angelica Cynster will each have their own book although an overarching storyline will unite all three books.  I was ecstatic to find out that each book will have the main body of action take place in Scotland, guaranteeing a cameo appearance of Scandal and Catriona and their twins.  Yay!  Also in the plus category is that the first book will star Viscount Breckinridge, a fabulous minor character in The Ideal Bride (Cynster book #11 with Honoria's brother Michael romancing the widow of a diplomat).  Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue will be out August 30th, followed by In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster on September 27th 2011 and The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae on January 31st 2012.  With Laurens consistency and great writing, I cannot wait for these to be published!

So don't dismiss historical romance, any more than you would any other genre.  If you decide to try it, pick up a Cynster novel by Stephanie Laurens and see what you think.  I don't think you'll be disappointed.









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