The Elusive Bride
3 Stars

The focus in this installment is on Major Gareth Hamilton and Miss Emily Ensworth as they travel across Egypt and Europe on their way to deliver the decoy letter containing the identity of the leader of the Black Cobra Cult. The events in this book occur in parallel with those of book #1.

While the overall suspense plot has potential, and it is entertaining to trace Gareth and Emily's journey via Google Maps, the repetitive episodic pattern of the narrative serves little purpose other than to fill the pages. Moreover, the insipid entries from Emily's diary interspersed throughout are childish and immature. She is more interested in learning whether Gareth is worthy husband material than the fact that murderous cultists are trying to kill her.

Gareth and Emily's romance falls flat as compared to Del and Deliah's. Emily's decision to chase after Gareth as she believes he is the "One" (i.e., the man she can love and marry) is exceedingly foolish. Her non-sensical pursuit together with Gareth's reticence with regard to the possibility of a relationship undermines what little chemistry they have.

The cameo appearances by the various members of the Bastion Club and their spouses are entertaining, and it is good to catch up on the various couples' lives.

The next book focuses on Logan Moncreith who has apparently lost his memory. It should be interesting to see how this affects the decoy letter plot device. ( )

Emily Ensworth knows what Gareth Hamilton's mission is, after all she is the one who delivered the original to him and his comrades. She is the one who had to ride away from his friend and leave him to die. She also feels a certain something towards him, an attraction that she wants to explore. She discovers his route and decides to follow him but the cultists after him are also after her and the two of them have to use their wits to survive. He has to also learn to trust her and her instincts as well as trust his feelings for her.

it was a fun read and I do wish I had read it better in sequence but the stories are almost simultaneous so it didn't really make that much difference in my enjoyment. A good series with strong male and female characters who are determined to find love and their own places in the world. ( )

In the second installment of the Black Cobra, the reader follows the travels of Gareth Hamilton complicated by the appearance and involvement of Emily Ensworth (who has decided that Major Hamilton is the man for her). The Black Cobra knows that Emily deivered the letter that Hamilton is now trying to transport to England and so they are both in danger.

Again the Black Cobra's followers work to recover the incriminating letter as well as eliminate those that are involved.

Gareth and Emily protect each other while expanding their personal relationship.

Another fun book with adventure and love at the center. ( )

OMG what a wonderful book. This one had a lot more action than the first one and I like all the diary entries. These books definitely need to be read in order so you can follow the whole story since each books follows each hero from the start of his journey to the very exciting climax which is only a few days apart in the over all story. I can't wait to start the next book. ( )

Have you already read The Untamed Bride, the first of this quartet of stories? If the answer is yes, then you have pretty much read this book as well. Simply change the names, personal background, eye and hair colors, and voila, you have The Elusive Bride.

To read a more comprehensive review simply read my review of The Untamed Bride (Black Cobra Quartet)and substitute this title for that one. Had I not purchased this book when I bought book #1 in this series I doubt that I would have spent the money. ( )