We have returned to the world of the Cynsters.

Micheal Anstruther-Weatherby, an up and coming Member of Parliament, needs a bride and he spies the young but appropriate neighbor Elizabeth. Elizabeth has already given her heart to another and has asked her aunt-by marriage- Caro Suttcliffe- to intervene.

Micheal quickly determines that Elizabeth is not at all the girl for him and sets his sights on Caro.

Caro- an emminently capable hostess of the diplomatic set- would be the Ideal Bride for Micheal, except for one thing. Previously married to a disinterested husband, Caro has no inclination to walk the aisle again.

There is also the little thing of somebody apparently trying to kill Caro...

This is one of Laurens' best attempts in some time. She gave more depth to her heroine this time around and complicated matters satisfactorily.

The ending was much too predictable- and I don't mean about "they lived happily ever after". The "mystery" finished up in an abrupt manner.

Stephanie Laurens is one of my favorites in the Romance Genre. Her characters are always lively and warm and as the series progresses, old friends resurface in appropriate manners.

Laurens uses quite a few bedroom scenes- but she is a master at erotica. I am always grabbing her books off the shelf because I can't wait to read her next seduction scene.

This particular title blended characters, an intriguing foreign affairs plot, and sexual fantasy in a most satisfying manner.

Interested in buying this? Support Writing.Com by making your purchase of The Ideal Bride   from Amazon.Com!

Created May 13, 2004 at 3:11pm • Submit your own review...