Romance Book Reviews
Page Two of TwoThe Ideal Bride by Stephanie Laurens
William Morrow, March, 2004Hardcover, 376 pages
ISBN: 0060505737
Subgenre: Historical
Ordering information:
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Michael Anstruther-Wetherby is a successful politician in
early 19th century England. In order to further his
career, he is expected to come up with the perfect
wife: one who can entertain at political gatherings,
act as a diplomat and generally be an asset.
A logical and forceful man, Michael looks around
and decides that he shall marry 19 year-old Elizabeth.
Michael doesn't realize that Elizabeth is madly in
love with someone else and so sets out to woo
Elizabeth, with the help of Elizabeth's Aunt,
Caro Sutcliffe. Caro is a young widow who was married
to one of England's most prominent politicians, and
is herself a skilled political hostess and diplomat.
Elizabeth and Caro join forces to make sure that Michael
sees Elizabeth is completely unsuited to the political
wife. But Caro finds herself in a real bind when, after
her plan succeeds, Michael decides that she will do nicely
as his wife instead. But Caro has a dark secret and is determined
never to marry again.
England's Regency period provides the perfect backdrop for Stephanie Laurens' latest, immensely enjoyable novel. Today's modern woman would simply tell Michael that she's not interested and there would be no story. Setting the story against the backdrop of the ton and the rigid rules which governed upper classes marriage habits creates a situation which calls for the utmost in diplomacy and subtle maneuvering to ensure that Elizabeth's reputation is not ruined by turning down an appropriate marriage offer or by seeming to be too clumsy to be a good wife. The Ideal Bride is extremely funny: Caro's and Elizabeth's masterful maneuvering of the master politician make for some very entertaining reading. Stephanie Laurens turns up the sensuality quotient, providing some very heated love scenes, and a well-executed murder mystery subplot adds to the suspense. Readers who adore the Regency period, a well-executed comedy of manners and a love story full of deep emotions should look no further.
Flashpoint by Suzanne Brockmann
Ballantine, March, 2004Hardcover, 380 pages
ISBN: 0345462327
Subgenre: Romantic suspense
Ordering information:
Amazon.com
Suzanne Brockmann continues her popular Navy Seals
series with this exciting international thriller. Tess Bailey is
a computer genius working for the Agency who longs to
go out into the field. She gets her first taste of
fieldwork when she goes undercover at a topless bar
to help agent Diego "Jimmie" Nash save the life of his partner,
Lawrence Decker. Tess and Jimmie have an ill-advised
fling, but Jimmie takes off and quits the Agency. When
Tess' promotion to field operative doesn't come through,
she also quits the Agency and joins up with the covert
consulting firm, Troubleshooters, Inc. Her first assignment
teams her with Deck and Jimmie once again, as they
head to earthquake-ravaged Kazbekistan on a dangerous
mission to retrieve the laptop computer of a warlord
Padsha Bashir who has al-Qaeda ties.
Suzanne Brockmann turns up the heat in her best book yet. She takes readers inside the world of a country which has been taken over by extremist Islam where women have no rights at all. Forced to abide by curfews, to be covered at all times in the restrictive burkas and not allowed to practice their professions under the new regime, the women are virtual slaves. There are enough different types of romance books written to appeal to all kinds of readers. Suzanne Brockmann's books appeal to readers who love exciting action, lots of passion and no silliness, sugar-coating or frilliness. Tess is a modern woman with a modern woman's contradictions: she can hack into secure computer systems, subdue a terrorist and yet still feel vulnerable in a relationship. This is a fast-paced, funny and emotionally rich story that paves the way for more in this excellent series.
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