The Games Lovers Play
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- Create Date：2021-03-23 12:23:04
- Update Date：2025-09-07
- Status：finish
- Author：Stephanie Laurens
- ISBN：1925559467
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Summary
#1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens returns to the Cynsters’ next generation with an evocative tale of two people striving to overcome unusual hurdles in order to claim true love。
A nobleman wedded to the lady he loves strives to overwrite five years of masterful pretence and open his wife’s eyes to the fact that he loves her as much as she loves him。
Lord Devlin Cader， Earl of Alverton， married Therese Cynster five years ago。 What he didn’t tell her then and has assiduously hidden ever since—for what seemed excellent reasons at the time—is that he loves her every bit as much as she loves him。
For her own misguided reasons， Therese had decided that the adage that Cynsters always marry for love did not necessarily mean said Cynsters were loved in return。 She accepted that was usually so， but being universally viewed by gentlemen as too managing， bossy， and opinionated， she believed she would never be loved for herself。 Consequently， after falling irrevocably in love with Devlin， when he made it plain he didn’t love her yet wanted her to wife， she accepted the half love-match he offered， and once they were wed， set about organizing to make their marriage the very best it could be。
Now， five years later， they are an established couple within the haut ton， have three young children， and Devlin is making a name for himself in business and political circles。 There’s only one problem。 Having attended numerous Cynster weddings and family gatherings and spent time with Therese’s increasingly married cousins， who with their spouses all embrace the Cynster ideal of marriage based on mutually acknowledged love， Devlin is no longer content with the half love-match he himself engineered。 No fool， he sees and comprehends what the craven act of denying his love is costing both him and Therese and feels compelled to rectify his fault。 He wants for them what all Therese’s married cousins enjoy—the rich and myriad benefits of marriages based on acknowledged mutual love。
Love， he’s discovered， is too powerful a force to deny， leaving him wrestling with the conundrum of finding a way to convincingly reveal to Therese that he loves her without wrecking everything—especially the mutual trust—they’ve built over the past five years。
A classic historical romance set amid the glittering world of the London haut ton。 A Cynster Next Generation novel—a full-length historical romance of 110，000 words。
A nobleman wedded to the lady he loves strives to overwrite five years of masterful pretence and open his wife’s eyes to the fact that he loves her as much as she loves him。
Lord Devlin Cader， Earl of Alverton， married Therese Cynster five years ago。 What he didn’t tell her then and has assiduously hidden ever since—for what seemed excellent reasons at the time—is that he loves her every bit as much as she loves him。
For her own misguided reasons， Therese had decided that the adage that Cynsters always marry for love did not necessarily mean said Cynsters were loved in return。 She accepted that was usually so， but being universally viewed by gentlemen as too managing， bossy， and opinionated， she believed she would never be loved for herself。 Consequently， after falling irrevocably in love with Devlin， when he made it plain he didn’t love her yet wanted her to wife， she accepted the half love-match he offered， and once they were wed， set about organizing to make their marriage the very best it could be。
Now， five years later， they are an established couple within the haut ton， have three young children， and Devlin is making a name for himself in business and political circles。 There’s only one problem。 Having attended numerous Cynster weddings and family gatherings and spent time with Therese’s increasingly married cousins， who with their spouses all embrace the Cynster ideal of marriage based on mutually acknowledged love， Devlin is no longer content with the half love-match he himself engineered。 No fool， he sees and comprehends what the craven act of denying his love is costing both him and Therese and feels compelled to rectify his fault。 He wants for them what all Therese’s married cousins enjoy—the rich and myriad benefits of marriages based on acknowledged mutual love。
Love， he’s discovered， is too powerful a force to deny， leaving him wrestling with the conundrum of finding a way to convincingly reveal to Therese that he loves her without wrecking everything—especially the mutual trust—they’ve built over the past five years。
A classic historical romance set amid the glittering world of the London haut ton。 A Cynster Next Generation novel—a full-length historical romance of 110，000 words。
Reviews
Starryskies
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This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers。 To view it， click here。 This is my first Laurens after a very long break。 And I now know why。 I had forgotten the 10+ page sex scenes 😀。 However the story was inexplicable。 For 5 years the hero has been keeping his wife at arms length。 Not telling her that he loves her will protect him I guess from something， I am not sure what。 Because if she leaves or dies， he will still be hurt regardless of whether she knows or not。 So it boils down to pride。 He is secure in the knowledge that his wife loves him while he does not s This is my first Laurens after a very long break。 And I now know why。 I had forgotten the 10+ page sex scenes 😀。 However the story was inexplicable。 For 5 years the hero has been keeping his wife at arms length。 Not telling her that he loves her will protect him I guess from something， I am not sure what。 Because if she leaves or dies， he will still be hurt regardless of whether she knows or not。 So it boils down to pride。 He is secure in the knowledge that his wife loves him while he does not step up to give her the same courtesy。 Worse he manipulates her into chasing him to get him to marry her to feed his male ego。 But leaves her hanging， unsure of him and always at a disadvantage because he has made sure she knows that he has done a favor by marrying her。 So after 5 years he decides he will tell her all about his love。 But not that he has loved her all along。 Just make her feel that he has grown to love her。 And why you may ask this change of heart。 Not because she is worth telling that he loves her。 Oh no。 Its because he wants to be like the rest of the Cynsters。 Since they flaunt their love matches， he should get to as well。 So he then decides to start spending a bit more time with his wife， but always making sure that he tells her that he is not doing it for her。 There is always another reason for him to just show up a random ball that she is at。 Got to keeping her insecure。 Cant give her too much power over him。 This continues for far too long， with random characters making appearances and teasing interesting sidebars which go nowhere。 I started skimming at this point so maybe something did happen but I bet not。 Anyway 80% out of the blue crisis later， he confesses all his love。 Wife is amazed that he's loved her from day 1 treated her like crap for no reason， manipulated her into an insecure position annnnd she shrugs and goes with it。 No challenging this bizzare behavior。 Just so grateful to be loved that all is happiness。 Seriously， why did I read this book。 。。。more
Jeri
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This book was one of my least favorite from this author。 More time is spent rehashing the H's reasons for putting off admitting he loves his wife than in doing anything positive about it。 There is also an inordinate amount of time spent in their lovemaking， and not alot of character or plot development。 The storyline kicks into high gear about three-quarters of the way through。 The epilogue is nice if you've read the earlier CNG books （we find out who's been producing the next generation of Cyns This book was one of my least favorite from this author。 More time is spent rehashing the H's reasons for putting off admitting he loves his wife than in doing anything positive about it。 There is also an inordinate amount of time spent in their lovemaking， and not alot of character or plot development。 The storyline kicks into high gear about three-quarters of the way through。 The epilogue is nice if you've read the earlier CNG books （we find out who's been producing the next generation of Cynsters）。 The next book （Lord Grayson Child's story） sounds like it has real potential。 Just chalking this book up to another victim of the disappointing and difficult last 12 months。 。。。more
M W Watson
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A memory test of the ÇynstersThis book is not for someone who does not know the family。 The story is soft but it is intriguing the way past novels are mentioned。 Dr Sanderson who saved Ryders life。 There's watching her son drawing thought of her cousin and a picture of the unusual commission appears her mum and dad's made makes you think of the aunt。Only 4 stars because of the lie Cysnters"Cysnster only marry for love"Devil met his wife one distressing day wanted to marry her the next and if my A memory test of the ÇynstersThis book is not for someone who does not know the family。 The story is soft but it is intriguing the way past novels are mentioned。 Dr Sanderson who saved Ryders life。 There's watching her son drawing thought of her cousin and a picture of the unusual commission appears her mum and dad's made makes you think of the aunt。Only 4 stars because of the lie Cysnters"Cysnster only marry for love"Devil met his wife one distressing day wanted to marry her the next and if my memory is correct did not tell her he loved her until 10 years later。Only twice can I think of a bride going to the alter a virgin Lenore and Jason and Antonia's mum her father wanted a piece of land she owned and did not even recognise her at the alte The trilogy Sabastian had to say he was engaged because Antonia said she was inhis bed as an alarm for a murder Michezl and c，oe were caught in bed by Drake Louise climbed I to Drakes bed and he called it fate！ At least they were gentlemen once bedded they wedded and were true to their wifes 。。。more
Susan H Garris
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Devlin and ThereseTherese is in love with her husband of five years but feels he is just fond of her。 Decline is head over heels in love with Therese but has neglected to ever let her know this。 Therese is the only daughter of Vane Cubs her and of course Cubs her only marry for love。 Devlin has decided to be subtle in his goal to let her know he is in love with her but it all blows up in his face and after almost losing her they have a long due tell all。 Next in the match makers sight is their f Devlin and ThereseTherese is in love with her husband of five years but feels he is just fond of her。 Decline is head over heels in love with Therese but has neglected to ever let her know this。 Therese is the only daughter of Vane Cubs her and of course Cubs her only marry for love。 Devlin has decided to be subtle in his goal to let her know he is in love with her but it all blows up in his face and after almost losing her they have a long due tell all。 Next in the match makers sight is their friend Child， the second son of a duke and Region's childhood friend。 。。。more
Rosemarie Grainer
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Another super Cynster Next Gen story by Stephanie LaurensI thoroughly enjoyed this story， which had the twist of bringing together a couple who are already married to each other！ Devlin had his reasons for not openly admitting to his love for Therese before they married， but they no longer satisfy him。 Now he needs to discover how to reveal that love to her without damaging the relationship they already have。 What a tangled web！ I loved getting some glimpses into the fun things a family with you Another super Cynster Next Gen story by Stephanie LaurensI thoroughly enjoyed this story， which had the twist of bringing together a couple who are already married to each other！ Devlin had his reasons for not openly admitting to his love for Therese before they married， but they no longer satisfy him。 Now he needs to discover how to reveal that love to her without damaging the relationship they already have。 What a tangled web！ I loved getting some glimpses into the fun things a family with young children could do in London at that time。 The children， Child and her long lost brother were all wonderful additions to the story。The pace is engrossing and the tone is uncertain yet hopeful。 The storyline is character oriented with some steamy scenes and a very different action scene。 The characters are vibrant and endearing。 You are urging them both to come to the correct conclusion to their issue/problem。 This is a very satisfying read and I love getting a peek at what is coming next。 I can't wait to see what will happen next！ Read at least this series in order， but to get the full picture， you really need to start with the Cynster series， go to the Cynster Sisters Trilogy， then the Cynster Sisters Duo， then the Cavanaugh series and finally the Cynster Next Generation books。 Along the way， you will enjoy the Adventurers Club， Bastian Club， the Casebook of Barnaby Adair， Lady Osbaldestone's Christmas intrigues and the Black Cobra quartet！ If you have not experienced these， then you are in for a treat！ Enjoy！ 。。。more
Katie
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I picked this book up expecting pining and wooing。 Instead， this book is 322 pages of the Earl and Countess of Alverton swanning around ballrooms and garden parties， dazzling a neverending stream of peers whose names you won't remember and who serve no other function than to demonstrate the social， political， and business prowess of the main couple。 There are no games the lover plays。 There are hardly any demonstrations of love at all。 The entire conflict， from cover to cover， is based on misund I picked this book up expecting pining and wooing。 Instead， this book is 322 pages of the Earl and Countess of Alverton swanning around ballrooms and garden parties， dazzling a neverending stream of peers whose names you won't remember and who serve no other function than to demonstrate the social， political， and business prowess of the main couple。 There are no games the lover plays。 There are hardly any demonstrations of love at all。 The entire conflict， from cover to cover， is based on misunderstandings that could easily be resolve with a single， honest conversation。 And the sum total of the methods Devlin undertakes to persuade his wife he loves her are （view spoiler）[spending slightly more time with her in public places， helping her brother， taking her to the opera， remembering what foods she likes， hanging out with his own children， fretting over her when she's injured， and buying her an expensive bauble （hide spoiler）]。 Most of those aren't romantic or anything beyond what you'd just expect a dude to do。If you're interested in how Victorian power couples played society like a fiddle， you will love this book。 If you were looking for a romance where a man wins over his wife。。。eh。 。。。more
N。W。 Moors
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I have to be honest: Ms。 Laurens is not one of my favorite historical romance authors， but I do like to check in on the Cynsters and their assorted connections occasionally because I have enjoyed some of the books。 This was not one of them。It's not bad at all， but it's also not great which is the problem。 Nothing much happens。 Devlin and Therese muddle along with no communication besides social chatter and a hot time in bed。 When he decides （after five years） that it's time to let his real feeli I have to be honest: Ms。 Laurens is not one of my favorite historical romance authors， but I do like to check in on the Cynsters and their assorted connections occasionally because I have enjoyed some of the books。 This was not one of them。It's not bad at all， but it's also not great which is the problem。 Nothing much happens。 Devlin and Therese muddle along with no communication besides social chatter and a hot time in bed。 When he decides （after five years） that it's time to let his real feelings out， he's so cautious and conniving that it doesn't seem real （at least to me）。 Therese isn't much better。 She's supposed to be so strong-willed but seems perfectly content with having a husband who doesn't love her。 The best part of the book was Child， so maybe I'll grab his romance when it comes out。 My rating on this book is on me， partly because I find the author's writing overblown and repetitious。 Yet I continue to read her because the Cynster family can be so interesting。 I just didn't find Therese and Devlin compelling。 。。。more
Miranda Owen
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https://freshfiction。com/review。php？i。。。 https://freshfiction。com/review。php？i。。。 。。。more
A
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The H and h have been married for 5 years and the H despite being in love with h， has pretended that theirs was a marriage of convenience。 This is a departure from the author's typical H and h getting into a caper and discovering love along with solving a mystery。 There is a hint at a mystery with h's brother who has been presumed dead coming back flush with cash after running away in a ship when he was 17 years old。 After he comes back， he is held at a gambling den and the h goes to a rescue bu The H and h have been married for 5 years and the H despite being in love with h， has pretended that theirs was a marriage of convenience。 This is a departure from the author's typical H and h getting into a caper and discovering love along with solving a mystery。 There is a hint at a mystery with h's brother who has been presumed dead coming back flush with cash after running away in a ship when he was 17 years old。 After he comes back， he is held at a gambling den and the h goes to a rescue but the story doesn't pick up on the mystery and run with it。 The H's friend Child as a character was interesting but also had a thread of weirdness in how H and Child interact with each other。 Nevertheless I think reading about Child would be a lot more interesting。 The H and h are portrayed as being curious and leaders but their actions aren't congruent with the portrayal。 Also， this generation of Cynsters aren't as interesting as the original as they haven't had to overcome a lot of odds， haven't had a dysfunctional family dynamics to overcome and the supporting characters are too well established and while that lends a thread of continuity doesn't introduce new perspectives or add color。 。。。more
Rosie Dixon
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Back on formThis book， whilst too short， had excellent balance between storyline and sauciness。 Love the introduction of Child， and that complex roguish relationship with Devlin。
Reference
google book https://www.google.com/search?tbm=bks&q=The Games Lovers Play
hathitrust digital library https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/ls?q1=The Games Lovers Play&field1=ocr&a=srchls&ft=ft&lmt=ft
The British Library https://bll01.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/search?query=any,contains,The Games Lovers Play&tab=LibraryCatalog&search_scope=Not_BL_Suppress&vid=44BL_INST:BLL01&lang=en&offset=0