What Price Love?

Written by Stephanie Laurens

Narrated by Elizabeth Sastre

In Stephanie Laurens's newest novel, a passionate man and
a daring woman confront the ultimate question

What Price Love?

Dillon Caxton, protégé of Demon Cynster, is now a man of sterling reputation, but it wasn't always so. Now impeccably honest, he is the Keeper of the Register of all racing horses in England. His standing and aloofness makes Dillon undeniably desirable to young ladies, but he remains uninterested.

Until Miss Priscilla Dalloway erupts into his life. Lady Priscilla affects Dillon as no other ever has, and what fascinates him is that she will do anything to see what's in the Register. Her twin brother, Russell, who had left home to work with the finest racehorses, has disappeared. Priscilla knows clues to his whereabouts can be found in the tome Dillon Caxton refuses to let her see.

Dillon convinces Priscilla to tell him all and to trust him with her twin's life. Together, Dillon and Pris locate Rus, only to discover that his life is threatened by the perpetrators of a massive betting swindle. They embark on a journey riddled with danger as they seek to overturn the swindle and expose Rus's deadly enemies. And along the way they discover the answer to that age old question: What price love?

Performed by Elizabeth Sastre

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperAudio
• Release date: Mar 14, 2006
• ISBN: 9780061134876

Stephanie Laurens

No.1 New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens originally began writing as an escape from the dry world of professional science. Her hobby quickly became a career; she has been writing historical romance novels for more than 20 years. Currently living outside Melbourne, Australia with her husband and two cats, she spends most of her days writing new stories in her signature "Errol Flynn meets Jane Austen" style.

Reviews for What Price Love?

[lauren2013_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

What Price Love?
4 Stars

Series note: This is book #13 in numerical order but book #16 in chronological order. While the plot itself is standalone, there are references to events from book #4.

The focus is once again on a Cynster brother-in-law. In this case, the hero is Dillon Caxton, Felicity Cynster's cousin (book #4). After a severe indiscretion in his youth, Dillon has dedicated his life to restoring his reputation and serves as the keeper of the Stud Register for the Newmarket racing commission. Amidst suspicions that race-fixing is afoot, Dillon encounters Miss Pris Dalling, who is intent on seeing the register. A battle of wills ensues as Dillon is just as determined to thwart her goal and learn her secrets. Is she somehow involved in a crime, and how far will she go to see the register? Dillon is about to find out.

Felicity and Demon's book is one of my few five-star SL reads, and while Pris and Dillon's isn't quite as good, it does hit all the right notes.

To begin with, Dillon and Pris's romance is different in tone from most of the other couples in the series due to the adversarial nature of their relationship and the fact that they are constantly trying to manipulate one another. Their verbal sparring is engaging and they have an intense physical and emotional bond.

Similar to Gerrard and Jacqueline's book, there is a darker undertone to the mystery and especially the final chapters where the truly despicable villain kidnaps Pris and arranges for her to be gang raped.

Overall, the last few books have been a significant improvement both in plotting, characterization and even in writing (although it is still too long-winded and repetitious). I hope the rest of the series continues in this vein.

[jorgeousjotts · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I enjoyed this one. It's about half the length of most of the others in the series, and I think that made it feel more focused and less bogged down. Also, because of the length, there didn't need to be a bunch of relationship angst in the third quarter to keep the drama going for another hundred pages or something. So instead, it was just a teensy blip and then they moved on. I liked that much more. Also the couple seemed more evenly matched than most of the previous books, which I greatly preferred as well.

[grapeapril75-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I adore this series!! Stephanie Laurens is a master at the Alpha Rake!! I love the men pursuing their ladies!!

[jaie22 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

One of the best Stephanie Laurens I've read in a long time.

[readingraven · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Romances are read to ease one's brain and stir up one's body. The best romances encite one to wake up one's husband from the inspiration provided. Stephanie Laurens writes good, sexy romances. They are predictable in the path they take -- strong woman taken on by a stronger man. She has a huge emphasis on the inevitability of their being together combined with the fact that they both must chose to be together in order to make it work. I just like her books. There is always a mystery to solve as well to keep the plot moving along. She's good and this book is good (but not one of the better) books in a very good series.