The Truth About Love

The Cynster Novels, Book 12

By: Stephanie Laurens

Narrated by: Matthew Brenher

Length: 16 hrs and 29 mins

Publisher's summary

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, sweeping them into each other's arms, and 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.

©2016 Stephanie Laurens (P)2016 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

Mediocre narrator of Cynster saga

The narrator of this story is a little dry. Simon Prebble is over the top but I prefer it to Matthew Brenher. He is on the boring side. I found my mind wandering. Over all the story is good. Love Aunt Minnie and Timms and glad they are in the story.

Good

I've read this book years ago. And now listened to it by a new narrator for me. He did an excellent job of narrating the different characters. The audio book summary said this was simmering in the "hotness" zone. It's more explicit than I remembered Stephanie Laurens books being. But ok. Worth a credit or better yet get it in the Romance package. 😁

I’ve read this book so many times over the years

The performance was stilted in spots and didn’t flow evenly throughout. It was sometimes difficult to differentiate between characters as I listened. If I hadn’t read it so often in the past, I probably would have been very confused by that last point.
However, no matter the issues I have with this performance, I will always love this book and all the rest in the series. I definitely recommend checking it out if you’re an enjoyer of the genre.

Happy reading!

Picture-painting worth a thousand rumors

Date: 1831 June
Chronology: set after The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae; before What Price Love?

Antecedents: We first meet Gerard Debbington in A RAKE’S VOW when his sister Patience meets and marries Vane aka Spencer Cynster. He also has a supporting role in A SECRET LOVE when he helps Gabriel aka Rupert Cynster trap a swindler for Alathea Morwellan.

I love the series and there’s much about this book I do like, like the gardens and the mystery, but it’s the one that makes the least sense to me. Gerard Debbington’s painting of Jacqueline Tregonning will be so revealing and expose her character so clearly that all will know her innocence. Huh?
But it is excellent at making you feel the mystery and menace in the situation. And the mutual interest between Gerard and Jacqueline holds a fascination as it develops.
It’s also a joy to visit with Vane, Patience and their now four children: Christopher, Gregory, Therese, and Martin. And I really like Barnaby Adair being added to the cast of Cynster characters.
Brenher does a good job of narration but is still a little weak on female characters.

Good story TERRIBLE narrator

Sigh. I hate to bash anyone's work, but ugh what a TERRIBLE narration. Not only were his various character voices horrible, but the tender love scenes SL is known for sounded like he was reading the phone book...or a dictionary. No life and absolutely NO passion. All I can say is I managed to finish just to continue the story line, but if you are just looking for a one off read...DON'T WASTE YOUR TIME. Where are Simon Prebble and or Rosalyn Landor when you need them!

Loved the story...hated the narration.

When love scenes and daring rescues are read EXACTLY the same as those of aristocratic gossip sessions... something needs to change. This guy has a nice voice but he could have been reading instructions for putting together office furniture for all the excitement he put into it.
The story was great (as usual) but I struggled to get through it because I was bored by the delivery.

Narration was subpar

The series has been very enjoyable up to this point for a couple of main reasons: 1) good story with entertaining characters, and 2) good narration (pleasing voices). In this audible book the narration grated on my senses and was somewhat off putting. I labored to finish and to resist the urge to skip along.

Not my cup of tea.

The idea of painting once portrait to prove innocence in my opinion is ludicrous. However the mystery plot had potential. Far too many repetition of intimate scenes.
Outstanding narration, however was the reason that I went through the story.

Very good book.

I really have enjoyed the Cynster series. This book had romance, suspense and a good conclusion.

The narrator did a good job on the voices.
In the the first Cynster novels, read by Simon P., the matriarch of the Cynster clan
had a French accent. This accent was forgotten by the current narrator, which was a disappointment. I'm not sure if the current narrator has ever listened to the beginning of the series?
I don't appreciate it, when the narrator is changed during the series and the accents and voices change from what you are used to hearing. It leads to inconsistencies when the characters reappear in a future book in the series and sound totally different.

I realize it's not always possible to keep the same narrator for a 15 book series.
I just wish the new narrators would go back to the beginning books and listen to how the reappearing character's voices were portrayed by the previous narrators to keep it consistent.
This narrator still did a good job.

The one thing I have noticed with this series is the repetition of the lead female characters who keep saying "I'm not going to marry you". The repetition seems to be a theme in the cynsters novels and gets annoying when the pages go on and on about it. A lot of time spent on this repetition drags the story down throughout each novel in the series.

Still a fan of Stephanie Laurens.

The author did an amazing job on the extensive family tree which was done for the Cynster series and the others books that are connected to the Cynster Clan.

Felt like listening to a documentary

This narrator does not make me feel anything It feels like he is a fact reader. I missed Simon Prebble he made you feel every word. And honestly if I have to hear this guy say portrait one more time I’m going to cry