Rating: 
Summary: long and drawn out
Review: As a Laurens fan I couldn't wait for this book! Well, I should have kept on waiting. Sorry to say, it took my days upon days to get throught this book. The first hundred pages or so seemed to be slow dry reading. The characters aren't that well developed and are lacking her usual flare. The plot could have amounted to a more exciting story if we didn't have to keep reading about the lack of [physical relations] in Caro's first marriage.
Rating:
Summary: YAWN-fest
Review: I enjoyed most of the previous books in Lauren's Cynster series but was disappointed with The Ideal Bride. The plot is far too predictable; you will know exactly what is going to happen 50 or so pages before it does. There's lots of steamy sex but the descriptions are over-blown and quickly become repetitive. The author churned out three or four books over the past year; perhaps The Ideal Bride is the result of quantity over quality.
Rating: 
Summary: A Never Miss Hit
Review: I really enjoyed this book, the force of his feeling for the heroine was expected but was not unforgettable. Although he first viewed her niece as a prospect to further his career and life, Caro became the obsesseion, that a male like Michael could not resist and loves seducing. This was a passionate story, and there is an introduction of the next Bastion Club book.
Rating:
Summary: The Ideal Bride
Review: I'll not take up your time by telling the story. All I will say is this is a keeper. The "older" characters from pass books make this one a delightful read.
Rating:
Summary: Worth the price of a hardback
Review: I've been waiting for the Michael's story. Stephanie, it was worth the price of the hardback edition. Thank you.
Rating: 
Summary: Super-sexy historical thriller
Review: Michael Anstruther-Wetherby has a challenge. There's an opportunity to move into the British cabinet, but only if he can do so as a married man--married to the right kind of woman. Because in 1825 England, women control society and can make or break a man's career. Michael identifies a candidate, Elizabeth, the daughter of a neighbor, and moves in. But his plans don't take into account the schemes of Elizabeth's aunt Caro. Elizabeth has fallen in love with another man and begs Caro to help her fend Michael off. Caro is willing and her plan works--sort of. Because Michael is soon convinced that Elizabeth isn't his perfect bride after all--Caro is. Caro has never really recovered from her marriage to an aging diplomat. Although she was successful as a society hostess and made her late husband even more powerful, she has always known that he married her only for her political insights and not out of love. As a widow, Caro has a certain power--power she's sworn never to give up by marrying another. Michael may be sexy and strong, she might even consider an affair with him, but marriage--never. Of course, Michael isn't going to give up on his goals. But he'll take whatever path comes open and an affair sounds like the perfect first step. Things really get complicated, though, when Michael discovers that someone is trying to kill Caro. Author Stephanie Laurens writes a steamy-sexy story. Caro is an interesting damaged character--filled with strength but still wounded from her former marriage. Michael is a fine alpha hero, fiercely protective of his woman and forceful in his lovemaking. Fans of Laurens' books will find a lot to like here, including appearances from some of the Cynster men who were heros in earlier novels. Several errors pulled me out of the story (note: this review is based on an early review copy. Some or all of these may have been corrected in the published volume). Although it's a minor point, the Austrian general who claims that Austria has no seacoast is living in the post-World War I world rather than in 1825 when the book is set. At that time, the Austrian empire included much of northern Italy (including Venice) and Croatia. It had a seacoast and a navy. Later, Caro refers to Michael as a 'prehistoric caveman.' That term hadn't yet been introduced. More fundamentally, I found the action-packed conclusion to be unconvincing. Surely the intelligent Caro could have come up with a smarter plan to save her love. Also, alpha heros are a matter of taste but I think Michael's decision not to tell Caro about the pellets in her horse (which almost killed her) and his plan to get her pregnant were both unattractive. In contrast, Caro is a highly likable character who's easy to identify with and cheer for as she faces her own problems and the deadly threat to her life. If you like sexy stories set in an England where the aristocracy still reigns supreme, where manners still matter and where a woman's every gesture can be packed with meaning, you'll find a lot to like in THE IDEAL BRIDE.
Rating:
Summary: long and drawn out
Review: Setting - Eyeworth Manor, near Fritham in New Forest, Hampshire, 1825 --- For fans of Laurens earlier Cynster novels this one features Michael Anstruther-Wetherby, who at 33 is a rising member of Parliament -- a man who clearly has a very promising future, quite possibly destined for greatness but insiders confided to him that advancement would be conditional upon him acquiring a wife. Handsome, well-born and naturally charming he is matchmaking mama's dream, especially with his connections to the wealthy and influential Cynster family -- his sister is married to Devil Cynster, the Duke of St. Ives (DEVIL'S BRIDE). Knowing that he needs a perfect wife, who would be politically astute, Michael has looks over his acquaintances and decides that 19 year old, Elizabeth Mollston would make a perfectly acceptable wife and helpmate as she came from a politically involved family herself. The only problem is that Elizabeth is in love with another and has enlisted the help of her Aunt Caro Sutcliffe, to help her in discouraging him from declaring himself. It doesn't take long before Michael discovers what that Caro has been `managing' him and that it is Caro, the very accomplished foreign ministers widow, who would be the perfect helpmate. Only Caro, whose previous marriage to a much older man, is adamant to remain `The Merry Widow' and NEVER intends to marry again. Michael has to use all of his abundant diplomatic charm to convince her to become his wife. At the same time, in a secondary sub-plot, and after numerous `accidents', he must discover who is trying to kill her. While this latest entry has abundant and graphic sexual encounters, it seemed to me that Laurens came up a bit short in the fire and feisty humor department. Caro and Michael, when not in bed, against a wall, or on the floor or ground hardly ever lose control of their emotions, which believe it or not give them a slightly lifeless appeal. After a while I grew somewhat bored with the repetitive sexual encounters and actually started skipping over them, being more interested in the action and mystery of the sub-plot of who was trying to kill Caro. The well-developed mystery subplot, in my opinion, saved this story being tossed aside, and of course, involving Devil Cynster (one of my all time favorite male heroes) was a treat! The excitement just wasn't there to call this a page-turner. Another point I look at when evaluating a book is that I had no trouble in putting it aside to go to bed. Bottom line.... Good, but not what I've come to expect from such an accomplished author.
Rating: 
Summary: Not her best effort - but still good!
Review: Setting - Eyeworth Manor, near Fritham in New Forest, Hampshire, 1825 --- For fans of Laurens earlier Cynster novels this one features Michael Anstruther-Wetherby, who at 33 is a rising member of Parliament -- a man who clearly has a very promising future, quite possibly destined for greatness but insiders confided to him that advancement would be conditional upon him acquiring a wife. Handsome, well-born and naturally charming he is matchmaking mama's dream, especially with his connections to the wealthy and influential Cynster family -- his sister is married to Devil Cynster, the Duke of St. Ives (DEVIL'S BRIDE). Knowing that he needs a perfect wife, who would be politically astute, Michael has looks over his acquaintances and decides that 19 year old, Elizabeth Mollston would make a perfectly acceptable wife and helpmate as she came from a politically involved family herself. The only problem is that Elizabeth is in love with another and has enlisted the help of her Aunt Caro Sutcliffe, to help her in discouraging him from declaring himself. It doesn't take long before Michael discovers what that Caro has been 'managing' him and that it is Caro, the very accomplished foreign ministers widow, who would be the perfect helpmate. Only Caro, whose previous marriage to a much older man, is adamant to remain 'The Merry Widow' and NEVER intends to marry again. Michael has to use all of his abundant diplomatic charm to convince her to become his wife. At the same time, in a secondary sub-plot, and after numerous 'accidents', he must discover who is trying to kill her. While this latest entry has abundant and graphic sexual encounters, it seemed to me that Laurens came up a bit short in the fire and feisty humor department. Caro and Michael, when not in bed, against a wall, or on the floor or ground hardly ever lose control of their emotions, which believe it or not give them a slightly lifeless appeal. After a while I grew somewhat bored with the repetitive sexual encounters and actually started skipping over them, being more interested in the action and mystery of the sub-plot of who was trying to kill Caro. The well-developed mystery subplot, in my opinion, saved this story being tossed aside, and of course, involving Devil Cynster (one of my all time favorite male heroes) was a treat! The excitement just wasn't there to call this a page-turner. Another point I look at when evaluating a book is that I had no trouble in putting it aside to go to bed. Bottom line.... Good, but not what I've come to expect from such an accomplished author.
Rating: 
Summary: wooden
Review: The Cynster series (very loosely linked!) has gone on for far too long, and the author is really repeating herself here. People in love with others, trying to escape an eforced marriage, the aunt becoming hte love interest instead of the sprightly young niece, and (...)[some] scenes crammed in to substitute for story, or even the characters having to speak to one another in meaningful way, it has all been done to death in Laurens' previous books. I want living breathing characters who care and are committed to each other, not just out to scratch an itch or serve their own selfish purposes by marrying because it is good for their career. The PW review hit the nail on the head-these people are so tightly controlled that we don't even care when they do the wild thing, and the wild thing scenes are completely tedious because so passionless. It reads like more of a Master and Johnson's manual at times. DULL!
Rating:
Summary: VERVE AND ELOQUENCE IN THIS READING
Review: Tony and Olivier Award winner Clare Higgins brings verve and eloquence to her performance of the latest from Australian romance novelist, Stephanie Laurens. Those familiar with the author's Cynster novels will find "The Ideal Bride" an entertaining listen as Laurens mixes mystery with love. Our hero is Michael Anstruther-Wetherby, a headed-for-great-things politico, who is used to getting what he wants when he wants it. In this case, realizing that a perfect wife will be an invaluable asset to his career, that is what he wants. Elizabeth, a lovely 19-year-old is the bride he wants. However, there are two obstacles in his pursuit - Elizabeth is in love with someone else, and her very attractive widowed aunt, Caro Sutcliffe, is definitely opposed to such a union. Caro's late husband was a politician so she well knows the rigors of being a politician's better half and she wants none of that for her beloved niece. The two women devise a plan to convince Michael that Elizabeth is not a suitable mate - the young woman will behave inappropriately at public functions. Sounds like a good idea. However, their stratagem backfires - quite romantically. Mix in some murder, an unknown enemy, and you have a thoroughly enjoyable listening experience. - Gail Cooke
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