Helpful Score: 8
HUGE disappointment. The quality so below her usual that you have to suspect she threw this together overnight. I should have counted the battles with the incompetent Cobra fighters.......maybe fifteen?? About a hundred Cobra's killed, and not a single Englishman gets a scratch?? And where did all these swarm of dark skinned, turban clad fighters keep coming from in England, remaining undetected until they popped up on boats and from hedges? Are you kidding me! I realize this was never intended to be good literature, but this book was so shallow tht it was a total waste of time. I couldn't have counted the battles because I ended up skimming the last half of the book. Save your money and book credits.
Micki M. (mickiminner) reviewed The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Bk 2) on + 18 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Unlike the first book in this series, the second one starts off as plausible....however, I got tired of reading "Dear diary"...ok, I got it after the first 15 entries in her diary as to what she was doing and why. I really didn't enjoy the book, until the very end, when they were planning counter-attacks, and gathering resources and questioning the cult reasonings. I will read the next two, but hopefully, there won't be anymore drivel whining about how to test a man's rightness for marriage....blech.
Helpful Score: 3
This story was better written than the first in the series, which was still better than what SL has been putting out the last couple years. That said, her earlier works were still written better than these. Yes, I just used the word, "better," a bajillion times. Alas, I'm not a writer - I'm a reader! Anyway, I'm looking forward to the third book in the series.
Suggestion for the author: perhaps a little less redundancy in the action scenes? Just because the setting changes doesn't make it interesting to read yet another fight scene. I began to wonder if it would ever end. It got a little boring.
Suggestion for the author: perhaps a little less redundancy in the action scenes? Just because the setting changes doesn't make it interesting to read yet another fight scene. I began to wonder if it would ever end. It got a little boring.
Michelle D. (Michelle74) reviewed The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Bk 2) on + 153 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 3
This is the second in a series. After reading the reviews about book number one, I skipped it and thought I'd give #2 a try. I was a little disappointed.
It starts off nicely, with a lot of insight into the heroine because of the numerous diary entries. Unfortunately, there were a little to many of them. - Although it may just feel that way because there was very little information from the hero's perspective.
He had no past to speak of, no family waiting for him, no plans for the future, and frankly, besides the physical attraction, I still wonder what makes the heroine drawn to him.
I felt as if the obstacles they faced were repetative until the ending. At this point the romance disappears and the "black cobra" story line takes over. I know it is setting up the next book in the series, but I wanted more happily ever after at the end.
If you like Laurens, and must read this book, put it on your waiting list, I wouldn't recommend buying it new. As for me, I will probably skip the rest of the series.
It starts off nicely, with a lot of insight into the heroine because of the numerous diary entries. Unfortunately, there were a little to many of them. - Although it may just feel that way because there was very little information from the hero's perspective.
He had no past to speak of, no family waiting for him, no plans for the future, and frankly, besides the physical attraction, I still wonder what makes the heroine drawn to him.
I felt as if the obstacles they faced were repetative until the ending. At this point the romance disappears and the "black cobra" story line takes over. I know it is setting up the next book in the series, but I wanted more happily ever after at the end.
If you like Laurens, and must read this book, put it on your waiting list, I wouldn't recommend buying it new. As for me, I will probably skip the rest of the series.
Helpful Score: 2
I enjoyed the book but found it very slow moving. It's the second in a quartet following the stories of 4 men riding back to England while avoiding the bad guys. The fight scenes were a little ridiculous - I don't know how many times they clashed, but the good guys never got more than a scratches. I ordered the first book to give it a shot, but if it's more of the same, I probably won't be able to get through it.
Helpful Score: 1
I'm enjoying this series immensely. Stephanie Laurens does a great job balancing the individual stories with the overall plot - while bringing in past characters for "cameos" with a purpose.
This one spends more time in "foreign parts" which I found refreshing. (Also, easier to hide the cultists there.)
I enjoyed watching Emily move from initial attraction through to certainty. The courtship ritual with the two of them was fun to watch.
This one spends more time in "foreign parts" which I found refreshing. (Also, easier to hide the cultists there.)
I enjoyed watching Emily move from initial attraction through to certainty. The courtship ritual with the two of them was fun to watch.
Refreshing,fast-paced,intriguing. A very good combination of factors.
I enjoy this book, as all of the Cobra books. Cannot wait to read the next one. Stephanie Laurens catches your interest and keeps it.
Joan W. (justreadingabook) reviewed The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Bk 2) on + 1726 more book reviews
This was OK for me, the story really seems to drag along alot slower than I thought it would. Took until half the book to get going.
Carol S. (waucondacarol) reviewed The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Bk 2) on + 319 more book reviews
I read many reviews not liking this book and series, but I enjoyed the entire Black Cobra Quartet and noticing characters from Laurens' Bastion Club series was fun. I could not figure out who the Black Cobra was and that was suspenseful. As it is a novel, I had no problem with the killers from India popping up all over England, and the many fighting scenes. I could even accept the heroine's naive, diary writings as part of her youthful indecision. I think you should read the novels in order as part of a whole to really enjoy each and the final denunciation.
Barbara S. (barbsis) -
Major Hamilton is one of a group of men working to decipher the identity of the Black Cobra, a nasty piece of work fighting against the English in Bombay. By the time they finally determine who the traitor is, Miss Emily Ensworth has become involved in the crisis. After a single encounter with Hamilton, Emily finds herself in love and follows him when he returns to England. Unfortunately, the Black Cobras follow also. The entire return trip is fraught with danger and romance since Hamilton is as captivated with Emily as she is of him.
Well the premise sounds interesting but the execution was boring, tedious, and repetitive. The Black Cobras repeatedly attacked and were easily rebuffed time after time. Even with only a handful of men (and women) they easily defeated the Black Cobras without serious injury. Why then were we subjected to battle after battle where even the women were confident enough of success to join in the fighting. It wasn't as if the Cobras were going to get any better or the good guys were going to get worse. It wasn't suspenseful at all since there was little worry as to who was going to be the ultimate winner of this skirmish. I made it until page 215 before giving up as there just wasn't enough to keep my attention. After all, if you've read one battle with poorly trained fighters, what need is there to read another of the same and another.
Well the premise sounds interesting but the execution was boring, tedious, and repetitive. The Black Cobras repeatedly attacked and were easily rebuffed time after time. Even with only a handful of men (and women) they easily defeated the Black Cobras without serious injury. Why then were we subjected to battle after battle where even the women were confident enough of success to join in the fighting. It wasn't as if the Cobras were going to get any better or the good guys were going to get worse. It wasn't suspenseful at all since there was little worry as to who was going to be the ultimate winner of this skirmish. I made it until page 215 before giving up as there just wasn't enough to keep my attention. After all, if you've read one battle with poorly trained fighters, what need is there to read another of the same and another.
Janet L. (proudgrandma) reviewed The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Bk 2) on + 285 more book reviews
A second battle-hardened, completely unstoppable, all-male hero, an ex-officer of the Crown, confronts the deadly enemy known only as the Black Cobra.
He's focused on his mission, then sees a lady he never dreamed he'd see again--with an assassin on her heels.
She secretly followed him, unaware her path is deadly--or that she'll join him to battle a treascherous foe.
Through ever-present peril, through passion, desire, and ectasy, they race to reach England--and their destiny.
He's focused on his mission, then sees a lady he never dreamed he'd see again--with an assassin on her heels.
She secretly followed him, unaware her path is deadly--or that she'll join him to battle a treascherous foe.
Through ever-present peril, through passion, desire, and ectasy, they race to reach England--and their destiny.
La Verne K. (AZology) reviewed The Elusive Bride (Black Cobra Quartet, Bk 2) on + 10 more book reviews
The Elusive Bride had kept my interest through the whole book. A book that is hard to put down as you always want to know what is going to happen next. It also shows you how someone who loves their country what length they will go to protect it. I applaud Stephanie Laurens for showing patronization in this quartet.
THIS BOOK IS VERY GOOD. IT GRABS YOU AND DOES NOT LET GO UNTIL THE VERY END.
I enjoyed this second installment of the black cobra series more than the first. But, these are slow reads, the mystery takes forever to build and then finally comes crashing down during the last 50 pages. Emily and Gareth were likeable and I enjoyed watching them stumble towards marraige. Do I finish the series? Hmmm.
