Rowena’s review of The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens.
Hero: Derek Delborough
Heroine: Deliah (not Delilah) Duncannon
Grade: 4.5 out of 5
They’re battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable—and all male: Four officers of the Crown, fighting against a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra.
He is a man who has faced peril without flinching, determined to fight for king and country.
She is a bold, beautiful woman with a scandalous past, destined to become an untamed bride.
Together they must vanquish the ruthless enemy, while confronting the dangers of the heart . . .
This is the first book in the Black Cobra Quartet. Stephanie Laurens got really creative when she outlined this series because I love the idea surrounding this group of books. The prologue sets up the entire series. It puts into motion what will happen in the coming books and I am much too excited about it.
You see, the book starts out with five soldiers of the crown thrown together on a mission to hunt and bring down a monster of a villain. This villain is such a huge monster that it takes creative thinking to bring him down. Lots of strategic planning went into play here and I loved that Laurens brought in other war veterans to help out with this particular mission. It was great to see characters from the other series play a role in this story without stealing Del and Deliah’s thunder. It was good to see all of the series come together to bring down the big beastly monster.
The thing that makes this series unique is that each book in this series will be taking place at the same time, fighting the same fight but in different places. You see, the story starts in India and one of the five soldiers is killed and the remaining soldiers come together to avenge his death and to fulfill their mission. The strategic planning that I mentioned a little bit ago comes into effect when they get the evidence they need to bring this monster down. With help from Dalziel, they come up with a plan to bring the evidence back safely to England and into the right hands. This mission is a whole lot more complicated than just merely protecting a document and bringing it safely home. The villain has an army to do his bidding and so four guys taking on an army just won’t work. They have to split up and they all have to take a different route home with either a copy of the evidence or the original evidence package. Nobody will know who has the original package but the person who draws it and they will all meet back home in England, hopefully in one piece to begin the second part of their plan. Bring the Black Cobra down.
This book follows Derek “Del” Delborough as he makes his way to England. Along the way, he becomes entangled with a spirited young lady who won’t stay where she’s supposed to stay and just won’t flat out listen. They encounter numerous attempts on Del’s life and they just keep right on fighting the good fight. Together. I enjoyed getting to know these two and I thought that they were well suited for each other even though Deliah got on my nerves some of the time, I didn’t hate her. Not at all. She was head strong but she wasn’t TSTL. She knew what she was capable of and she ended being a huge help to Del. She was smart and she was capable. I liked her.
Del was a solid, strong hero. One that I had no trouble following along with. He is a great leader and though I loved him, I can tell that I’m going to fall in love with one of the others just a little more. I’m mighty intrigued by Rafe, the hot headed one. Although I’m looking forward to getting to know both Gareth and Logan. I’m really excited for the rest of the series to play out and I think that Stephanie Laurens did a fantastic job with the start of this series. Del and Deliah’s story was very entertaining and with the addition of the Cynsters and the Bastion Club, I think fans of Stephanie Laurens will not be disappionted.
Giveaway: We’ve got a copy of this book to giveaway so if you want to throw your name in the hat to win this book, leave a comment letting us know what you’re most looking forward to seeing from this new series even if it’s just the Cynsters or the Bastion Club. Good luck!
Browse inside the book before you buy it by clicking here. There’s also this pretty nifty little book trailer for The Untamed Bride, check it out:
This book is available from Avon. You can buy it here or here in e-format.
Oh, I just really need my Stephanie Laurens fix. 🙂 Even though there were so many Cynsters and them Bastion Club beefcakes running around, I still love her.
Hereby throwing in name in the hat!
– Sasha
esashamartinez[at]yahoo[dot]com
I love the idea that they all take place at the same time…always fun to get new insights on the same events. Can’t wait for this series!
I am looking forward to seeing both the Cynster and the Bastion Club. Gotta love some historically hot men 🙂
Oh cool!
I want to know whether Ms Laurens will create another memorable series, but I do hope she brings back the originality and force of the first handful of Cynster books, and of the first couple of Bastion Club titles.
Plus, I’m sorta addicted to her work… 😉
I’m always looking for new authors and series to read, sounds good!
Please enter me. I have this book on my must buy christmas list. So if it gets bought for Christmas I can’t read it till then…really really don’t want that.
I can’t wait to read this brand new series! I’m also looking forward to seeing characters from both the Cynster and Bastion Club series.
i haven’t read a stephanie laurens book in a while so i really want to read this series. i’m most looking forward to revisiting the cynsters. i loved reading about them!
I am looking forward to seeing more of the Bastion Club heroes making their appearances hopefully into this series.
Hi!
This book and series sounds wonderful! I’m looking forward to seeing the Bastion Club.
I love the Cynsters series so anything during the time period sounds good to me.
kalynnick AT yahoo DOT com
Hi, I have yet to read any of her books. She will be a need author and read for me. I like the cover!! Thanks, Sue
I ahven’t read this series but I’m definitely interested about the chracters and their story.
Count me in !!!
I’ve read noth series and loved them, so I’m more than eager to discover this new one 😉
I have never read a Stephanie Laurens book as I love reading in order and when i got really into historicals her series were already several books into the series. So this would be an ideal book to start my induction into Stephanie Laurens’ writing.
I really enjoy Stephanie Laurens’ writing and have enjoyed the Bastion series. This will be great; a look at an under-used locale with glimpses of the heroes that we already love.
I’ve been really looking forward to this new SL series! TUB sounds like a great start to it. 🙂
Since I have not read anything by her before I would just love to see how she writes, and it does sound like a great book. I do like to see how tehy get those HEA’s
Glad to see a great review, looking forward to the new series, and more of Dalziel and the Bastion Club.
I’ve never read a book by this author so I really wouldn’t really know what to expect, but I do know it looks like a really great book! I guess I’m just looking foward to reading it! LOL:)
Looking forward to meeting wonderful new characters. Stephanie always makes you fall in love with her heroes and heroines.
Looking forward to seeing characters from both Cynsters and Bastion club!
delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com
I’ve read all of Stephanie’s books, and really enjoy both series. Love the strength of her characters and the sense of friendship and love of family that comes thru in both of these series. I am looking forward to this new series, and especially any guest appearances from characters from the Bastion Club and Cynster families.
I loved all the Cynsters but had to take a break with the Bastion Club. I think I’m ready to jump back in the pool and this sounds like an intriguing idea for a series.
I’m excited because Stephanie Laurens writes backstory and action/adventure that I actually WANT to read!
Would love to win a copy. Sounds like the beginnings of a great series. Thanks!
I miss the original Cynsters, and was sad to see the Bastion Club series end…so not only am I excited about this new series, I am glad that we can glimpse into the lives of the characters we have grown to love. Would love to win it
This sounds like a great book. Would love to read it.
seriousreader at live dot com
I’m looking forward to seeing Dalziel, too, as well as the other members of the Bastion Club.
I’m looking forward to more of Devil and Honoria.
Bring it on!!
I so want to read this! I love Laurens books. I especially like Dalziel. dasuzuki at yahoo dot com
I love her books and I want to meet new heroes, and I hope to see old friends from the other series too.
I’d like to be entered, please. I can’t give up Laurens. I’d love to see more Cynsters.
This book sounds great I like the cover too.
Penney
luvhistoricalromance at gmail dot com
I follow and I’m subscribe.
I’m looking forward to a great adventure and some more cynsters.
I’m looking forward to some great heroes.
I have this book in my to get pile and really, really want to read it. Her writing is so much fun and the men are drool worthy. Please enter my name in the hat.
me8acat (at) yahoo (dot) com
OMG, well Ms. Laurens is awesome, but I’ve never been there at the beginning before and this looks like such a scrumptious story I’d like to be there from the word go!
Thanks for the giveaway!
b42bella AT gmail.com
I look forward to more from the Cynsters and the Bastion Club. I can’t wait to read her new series.
they both look very interesting and I think I will check out Stephanie Laurens I have not had the chance to enjoy her books yet.
Thanks
April
I hope I’m not too late to participate in this contest. I never read books by Stephanie Laurens before, but I heard good thing about her books. I thought maybe to give her a try. Today, I was tempted to get a copy of THE UNTAMED BRIDE but I changed my mind at the last minute, thinking I should wait on it for the holidays *grin*.
Good luck to everyone who participating in this contest! 🙂
Count me in, too. I love starting new series. I am new to Stephanie Laurens so don’t know much about her previous works. This one sounds very good!
I would love to enter your contest. This new series has caught my attention. Thank You.
Contest giveaway closed. Winners will be announced soon.