Niniver Carrick is an unusual woman -- chosen by her clan
to
lead them after the laird's death. She has no intention
of
sharing her power with a husband, but she must convince
her
willful suitors to leave her alone. To that end, she seeks
out her neighbor, Marcus Cynster, and asks him to act as a
sort of enforcer. Marcus is determined to have Niniver; he
believes she's his fated bride. It's just a matter of
getting her to say yes.
I really enjoyed reading A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER.
Stephanie Laurens has been writing about the Cynsters for
years, and the Carricks are their neighbors. Her
familiarity
with the lands and the families helps sweep you into the
story. Laurens surrounds the hero and heroine with a
wonderfully diverse collection of characters -- good, bad,
and misguided -- and the central plot, the love story, is
balanced with a dark past, a dangerous mystery, and a few
laughs. Like Marcus, we know Niniver will eventually come
around, but the getting there is sometimes thrilling and
often delightful.
A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER is part of a larger series of
Cynster novels, but it
stands on its own. I recommend A MATCH FOR MARCUS CYNSTER
for readers who enjoy historical romances.
Duty compels her to turn her back on marriage. Fate
drives him to protect her come what may. Then love takes a
hand in this battle of yearning hearts, stubborn wills,
and
a match too powerful to deny. #1 New York Times
bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns to rugged
Scotland with a dramatic tale of passionate desire and
unwavering devotion.
Restless and impatient, Marcus Cynster waits for Fate to
come calling. He knows his destiny lies in the lands
surrounding his family home, but what will his future be
and
with whom will he share it?
Of one fact he feels certain: his fated bride will not be
Niniver Carrick. His elusive neighbor attracts him
mightily,
yet he feels compelled to protect her—even from himself.
Fickle Fate, he's sure, would never be so kind as to
decree
that Niniver should be his. The best he can do for them
both
is to avoid her.
Niniver has vowed to return her clan to prosperity. The
epitome of fragile femininity, her delicate and ethereal
exterior cloaks a stubborn will and an unflinching
devotion
to the people in her care. She accepts that she cannot
risk
marrying and losing her grip on the clan's reins to an
inevitably controlling husband. Unfortunately, many local
men see her as their opportunity.
Soon, she's forced to seek help to get rid of her
unwelcome
suitors. Powerful and dangerous, Marcus Cynster is perfect
for the task. Suppressing her wariness over tangling with
a
gentleman who so excites her passions, she appeals to him
for assistance with her peculiar problem.
Although at first he resists, Marcus discovers that,
contrary to his expectations, his fated role is to stand
by
Niniver's side and, ultimately, to claim her hand. Yet in
order to convince her to be his bride, they must plunge
headlong into a journey full of challenges, unforeseen
dangers, passion, and yearning, until Niniver grasps the
essential truth—that she is indeed a match for Marcus
Cynster.