The Elusive Bride

Laurens' books, in my opinion, have been getting worse and worse. I enjoyed many of her earlier stories about the Cynster clan - they were lightweight but didn't pretend to be anything else. This second book in her latest series, though, has pretenses (as did the previous one) of being some sort of adventure/espionage tale about the British East India Company era in India and England. However, the story is so thin and wildly unbelievable and the villains so paper-thin in characterization that the plot falls apart even before it has a chance to begin. (Think Robin Hood vs. the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, without the humor.) Moreover, in this particular journey, the female character is so completely self-centered and shallow as to be complaining to her diary, amidst attacks by a fanatical assassin cabal which is supposedly responsible for horrific torture and widespread abuse against men, women and children, that she hasn't enough time to determine whether the male hero is "the one" for her. She literally seems to be oblivious to the fact that these supposed terrorists are responsible for death and mayhem all over India. And then of course, true to standard Laurens fare, the hero and heroine spend the next chapter rolling around in her bunk. BLEAH!

I have read most of Stephanie's books and some of my all time favorite historicals were written by her. I think it must be heard to maintain that level of writing as so many prolific writers books start getting pretty boring. I hope this isn't a sign of things to come. I won't read any more of the Bride books and only hope that Stephanie will be able to come back. Don't get me wrong, we all have bad days, so read all of her earlier books. This one was BORING and trivial. YOu have no idea who those people are/were. There was literally no backstory. The book was beyond one dimensional and the romance aspect left me thinking, HUH? Where's the romance?

the narrarator is great. I've listened to Stephanie Laurens other audio books and enjoy them. However, this heroine got on my last nerve! She was so self-absorbed, so trivial and by the end of the book I was hoping she DIDN'T get the guy. She writes in her diary throughout the book and that was annoying. She seemed shallow and there was little character development/back story to her. The only reason I gave it an overall 3 stars is because Simon Prebble is very good. If I was reading this book, I would've put it down and moved onto another one.

no.

The Elusive Bride was great reading. I like how Ms Laurens pulls past books plots and charactors together to make the book familiar and gives it a place within the whole of a story line that is still in work. Can't wait for the next book in this series!

No, she writes an interesting tale, but takes far too long. In the end, I think the author got tired and just stopped the story.

Narrator did the best he could

Felt sorry for Simon Prebble.

Really, I don't expect grand literature in bodice rippers, but this was ridiculous. Ms. Laurens' editor should impose a strict adverb limit and redline the use of: blatantly, flagrantly, demandingly, commandingly, evocatively and provocatively, especially all in one sentence. I only stuck it out because I enjoy Mr. Prebble so much. The characters were superficial and badly developed and no reason for a romance existed. The heroine was effectively a teenage girl confiding in her diary and the hero was more milquetoast than Ashley Wilkes. Blech. Double blech. I can't blech enough.

there is nothing elusive about the lead female character in this book what so ever as she literally throws herself at the lead male character through out out the entire first half of this book. the rest is an 18th century take on alqaeda and poorly done at that. some of the sex scenes were hot but not enough to save the story line of the book. then the ending doesn't finish the story, but i'm uncertain if it was meant to set up for another book? don't waste your credit.
the narrators voice was gruff and became annoying after a few hours of listening.

As the title of my review points out,