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The Untamed Bride (Black Cobra Quartet #1)

by Stephanie Laurens (Goodreads Author), Simon Prebble

3.79 of 5 stars 3.79 · rating details · 1,773 ratings · 135 reviews

New York Times bestselling author Stephanie Laurens presents a brash, bold new series.

They're battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable—and all male: Four officers of the Crown, fighting against a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra.

He is a man who has faced peril without flinching, determined to fight for king and country.

She is a bold, beautiful woma...more

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Published October 27th 2009 by HarperAudio (first published October 1st 2009)

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Sep 08, 2012 Jean rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, romance

I really enjoyed this novel. In this series, it begins in India where a smart, ruthless cult leader is terrorizing and gaining control. The good guys know who it is but need irrefutable proof and a well connected advocate at home in England to bring down the cult leader who is also a well connected, powerful Englishman. While our story starts in India, most of it takes place after everyone has returned home to England.

We have the reappearance of the Cynsters and characters from the Bastion Club...more

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Apr 09, 2012 Dawn rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance

This is the first book of the Black Cobra Quartet, though I read it second. Colonel Del takes a quick leave of India and has an uneventual travel to England, which is where he meets Deliah and his battles with the Black Cobra take place.

It was interesting read these out of order as my opinions of some of the characters (notably the enemies) had be colored by the 2nd book, which had different descriptions of the scenes and was that information was found out by the antagonists. However, I was able...more

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Feb 01, 2012 Liza rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: e-book, romance, historical

Hard to read if you're not familiar with Laurens' other series (Bastion Club and Cynster Family). I've read some of the Cynster novels, but not in a good fifteen years, and had no basis for the interplay between characters she treated with too much familiarity.

The plot itself was...okay...if you could get past the assumption that you already know half the characters. Also, many characters were superfluous, like she was dragging them out for a family reunion.

Oh, and I hated the main (female) cha...more

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Sep 23, 2011 Peebs rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: borrowed

The first in a series of four novels that are connected to the Cinsters series.

This one deals with the first man in the Black Cobra Quartet. Five British officers in India are tasked with finding who is the leader of the Black Cobra which is terrorizing the populace. The officers after many months of surveillance are nowhere near figuring out who the leader is. One of them strikes gold when he intercepts/finds a letter signed by the leader, except that the letter was signed with his own signet....more

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Aug 07, 2010 Michelle rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historicalfiction, romance

The Governor General of India, Marquess of Hastings, orders five soldiers (Colonel Derek “Del” Delborough, Major Gareth Hamilton, Captain Rafe Carstairs, Major Logan Monteith, and Captain James MacFarlane) in the East India Company to discover and dispatch the leader of a rebel cult, the Black Cobra. After nearly exhausting their search for proof of the identity of the Black Cobra, Captain MacFarlane discovers, almost by chance, the needed proof while escorting the Governor of Bombay’s niece. Wh...more The Governor General of India, Marquess of Hastings, orders five soldiers (Colonel Derek “Del” Delborough, Major Gareth Hamilton, Captain Rafe Carstairs, Major Logan Monteith, and Captain James MacFarlane) in the East India Company to discover and dispatch the leader of a rebel cult, the Black Cobra. After nearly exhausting their search for proof of the identity of the Black Cobra, Captain MacFarlane discovers, almost by chance, the needed proof while escorting the Governor of Bombay’s niece. While on their way, the cultists attack and Captain MacFarlane sacrifices himself in order to make sure the proof (a letter) gets to the right hands. He enlists the aid of the Governor’s niece who brings the proof to the remaining four officers. They then make copies of the letter and each set off on different paths to return to England with the proof of the Black Cobra’s identity.

Colonel Delborough is the first to leave with his copy of the letter. His route takes him directly to London. Once he arrives at the predisposed inn, he discovers that he has been saddled with escorting Deliah Duncannon to their hometown. While Del is trying to get out of his escort duty, the Black Cobra’s assassin strikes, but Deliah warns him in time. Since she has seen, and been seen in return by the assassin, Del decides to take Deliah with him. Del is surprised to discover that Deliah is quite the ally in his goal in catching the eye of the Black Cobra’s men. Not only are these two a good team in the field, but in the bedroom as well.

Since this is the first book in the series, there is some backstory to get through. Once the main character begins his journey, we are treated to a cookie-cutter plot, especially if you have read other novels by Laurens. The main characters are somewhat interesting and fleshed out, but at times become predictable. If you have read any of the Cynster or Bastian Club novels, then be prepared for the onslaught of visiting characters. Overall, a decent read with some action (both in and out of the bedroom) and some tender moments.(less)

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Nov 15, 2009 Carol Kerry-green rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Cue rant...

I've just finished reading Stephanie Laurens' new book - The Untamed Bride - book one in the Black Cobra series. I really enjoyed it, like the premise of four heroes each racing back to England with important information that must reach the Duke of Wolverstone (aka Daziel from the Bastion Club) aided by characters from the Bastion series and all of the Cynster cousins. Talk about putting all your apples in one cart! But it worked, mostly.

I don't know if it's just me, but I do like hi...more Cue rant...

I've just finished reading Stephanie Laurens' new book - The Untamed Bride - book one in the Black Cobra series. I really enjoyed it, like the premise of four heroes each racing back to England with important information that must reach the Duke of Wolverstone (aka Daziel from the Bastion Club) aided by characters from the Bastion series and all of the Cynster cousins. Talk about putting all your apples in one cart! But it worked, mostly.

I don't know if it's just me, but I do like historical accuracy in my Historical Romance novels, as in any other historical novel I read - and in this one, Laurens' for me, dropped a clanger. It probably won't mean much to the majority of readers of her books, or indeed to this review, but her main characters, Del Delborough and Deliah Duncannon both hail from an area known as the Wolds, he from Middleton on the Wolds, which is great I thought, it's not far from where I live! Then she dropped the clanger by consistenly saying it was in Humberside - all throughout the novel this jarred, and I admit if I hadn't have been enjoying the plot, I would have chucked the book away in disgust - it's sloppy research. Humberside as an administrative county only existed between the years of 1974 and 1996, until then and indeed afterwards it has always been in the East Riding of Yorkshire! In 1822, the year in which the novel is set, Humberside wasn't even used as a descriptive for the area around the Humber, it was either Yorkshire or for the south bank Lincolnshire! As I was reading the novel I then started to question the rest of the historical geographic information, so far haven't found any other clangers there.

I was reminded of the other time Laurens sloppy research annoyed me, it was in one of the Bastion books, and they were trying to find out who the bad guy was, they had a name but nothing else - so what did they do, but go to St Catherine House to search for his birth! No, no, no. This book was set in 1816, general registration in England didn't start until 1837 - before that births were only recorded if someone was baptised, and that information in 1816 would still be in the individual churches, so I can see whey Laurens did it - and St Catherine's House as the deposit for birth registrations didn't start until 1970, before then they were held at Somerset House on the Strand in London from 1837-1970. - Sorry, I'm a genealogist, so that misinformation really annoys me!!

I mean, I accept that for HR novels, the characters, usually members of the British Aristocracy are made up, the Dukes of St Ives and Wolverstone weren't real Dukedoms, and I accept that, they are fiction. But it's were historical accuracy is needed is around the period that the books are set in, so if a book is set in 1816 or whenever, then only those places that existed historically in 1816 etc. should be mentioned, etc.

Anyway, rant over!(less)

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Jan 25, 2013 Stacy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I really like the intrigue aspect of this series--the four military men on a covert mission to get home from India in order to take down the reprehensible Black Cobra. I found the method by which Del got saddled with female tagalong to be believable, and once she gets ID'd and attacked, it makes sense to keep her protected the rest of the way. I haven't actually read the Bastion Club series yet, but I like that this series is linked with both it and the Cynsters.

What brought it down a notch for...more

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Oct 24, 2011 Jody rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: library

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here. Did not really think I would like this book to begin with with all the talk at the beginning kinda sounded like it was gonna be a military book all the way through. But eventually they bring in some of my all time favorite characters, the Cynsters.
Beginning in India, with a majorly evil man taking control, five men are selected to discover who he is and gather enough evidence to destroy him. Which is kinda hard considering that they believe him to be the heir of a VERY important man in England....more

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Apr 09, 2011 Kasey rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook, library, period-pieces-historical-romances, men-in-uniform

This book wasn't hard to read and if I didn't think about it to much might have received more stars. It kept me entertained enough and I didn't dread picking it up again. I like Del and Deliah. She was strong willed and 29 far to old not to have married. She was a business woman and basically all around not the norm for a lady in her time. Del was suppose to be an 'alpha' male. He was controlling, sexual, and thrilled about Deliah's differences. Neither Del or Deliah are common for their time un...more

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Jun 20, 2010 Hazel rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

My sister used to collect Stephanie Laurens books, so I’ve read several of them. I remember the formula, and was interested to find that in this book she gathers together some half a dozen heroes from previous novels. In this book she tells us repeatedly that they’re identical, :-), so the profile of Laurens’ idealised man is clear. He’s tall and handsome, unsurprisingly rich. But he’s also extraordinarily commanding, an acknowledged leader among men; possessive and protective , but emotionally...more My sister used to collect Stephanie Laurens books, so I’ve read several of them. I remember the formula, and was interested to find that in this book she gathers together some half a dozen heroes from previous novels. In this book she tells us repeatedly that they’re identical, :-), so the profile of Laurens’ idealised man is clear. He’s tall and handsome, unsurprisingly rich. But he’s also extraordinarily commanding, an acknowledged leader among men; possessive and protective , but emotionally vulnerable towards his mate. He’s virile, sexually demanding and willing to indulge in a little bondage, but also a closely involved and attentive father, an early 19th century ‘new man’. He isn't described changing nappies, but that's about it. Laurens didn’t seem to think there’d be any tension at all in a houseful of these uber-alpha males. As for the women, naturally each is a raving beauty. They’re also intelligent, strong-willed and combative, so that their warrior-husbands have to conspire in order to keep them from joining in to fight the bad guys. More about that later.

I’ve spent more time than usual thinking about this novel, because in the Bodice Rippers, we’ve been considering romance novels and trying to understand their themes. This seems quite defferent to the other books we’ve read in the group. I think Laurens is technically superior to Emily Bryan and the Skye-writer. Her plot is rubbish, of course. No spoilers, but the mystery/adventure elements are very weak. The Black Cobra is a sinister criminal master-mind comic-strip villain (not comic-book:this is the kind of guy the Phantom would have gone after, seeking justice and swearing revenge), whose murderous thugs are wholly laughable. The ‘mystery’ serves just to provide contrived encounters which allow the hero to be victorious and masterful and the heroine to be feisty and spirited. Yawn. The rest of the characters are plastic, not an individual among them. But there are elements of interest here.

There’s more sex and each encounter lasts several pages. (Did I mention how virile the hero is?) But it’s all enthusiastically consensual; nothing like the disturbing rapefest we encountered in Skye O'Malley. One thing that strikes me about Laurens’ book is her focus on the hero’s point of view. We spend page after page on his ruminations, his examination of his physical and emotional reactions to the heroine, the development of his attachment to her. For a 19th century tough guy, his EQ is impressive. I’m also interested in Laurens' deliberate use of sex for communication. Her hero consciously sets out to woo and win his lady by making love to her, but also aims at some almost mystical communication of his deepest need for her. Somehow this non-verbal communication is remarkably clear, and they understand each other perfectly. So the idealised romantic couple are not just a good physical match, they are soulmates. Of course it’s all somewhat purple: ‘their wills met and merged in a clash of fire and passion’ etc.

Which brings me back to bondage. I’m no prude, but isn’t there something odd in a houseful of husbands conspiring each to distract his wife with a little S+M, and then simultaneously, to leave her tied-up in bed? I half-expected them to meet downstairs and throw the car-keys into a bowl. So, S+M and group sex. :-) How titillating. (less)

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Nov 14, 2009 Andrea rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: read-historical-romance

I like the Cynsters so I was glad that this book featured them and their wives. I like the idea of this book - a clandestine mission meant to stop "the Black Cobra" from massacring more and more people in India. I normally don't like series but I like how this one will probably all come together in the end.

HOWEVER - I did not like the way English imperialism was relayed in this book - all good, no bad. (I know, I know....English citizens from this timer period would undoubtedly have felt that wa...more

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Feb 22, 2010 (Kelly)~DemonLover~ Oakes rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

Okay, I must admit that this is the first Stephanie Laurens novel that I've ever read... and will NOT be the last.

I am not a big fan of the Historical Romance genre, but this book may have altered that point of view.

The Untamed Bride is set in India 1822. Our leading man, Colonel Derek Delborough, is what makes the pages turn at an alarming rate. Tall, dark and handsome, he is a commanding presence to those around him. One of four officers of the crown, he is now faced with a desperate mission t...more

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Jan 21, 2013 Kris rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

4 STARS "They're battle-hardened, sinfully wealthy, completely unstoppable - and all male: Four officers of the Crown, fighting against a deadly foe known only as the Black Cobra. He, Derek Delbourgh, is a man who has faced peril without flinching, determined to fight for king and country. She, Deliah Duncannon, is a bold, beautiful woman with a scandalous past, destined to become an untamed bride.Together they must vanquish the ruthless enemy, while confronting the dangers of the heart." (From...more

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Feb 09, 2010 Penny Watson rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The Untamed Bride by Stephanie Laurens

After the disastrous final installment of The Bastion Club series (Mastered by Love), I was reluctant to dive into the new Laurens' series, The Black Cobra Quartet. I bought this book at the grocery store on a whim and figured....What the heck, I'll give Stephanie another chance!

Well, lo and behold, Stephanie Laurens got her mojo back! The suspense part of this book is absolutely riveting. I adored the prelude to this book, which takes place in India, 1822....more

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Jan 15, 2011 taita rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, fiction, historical-fiction, kindle, series, regency

I have never rolled my eyes or guffawed so many times in the course of reading a book. This book proved almost every prejudice and pet peeve I have about Romance novels - one word sentences strung repeatedly to convey emotion, improbable twists to the story, ridiculous reasons or awkward transitions to a love scene, superficial dialogue, detailed inner monologue, etc.

This is the first I've read by this author and I was pretty disappointed. It started out promising until the two main characters...more

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Nov 24, 2011 Anne Toronto1 rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: xrate

"The Untamed Bride" (Black Cobra 1/4) by Stephanie Laurens starts (March 1822) a new series about corrupt English aristocrats (funding Regency King George) who pillage villages in India. When the youngest of a group of elite Guard "soliders" (typo p11) is typically tortured and killed finding incriminating papers sealed with the villains' unique family ring, the remaining quartet split up with copies and head for home and Cynster support. A beguiling female entangles each in passion. First, Deli...more

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Jan 11, 2010 Emma Hillman rated it 1 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Aug 12, 2009 Dara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: signed-books, 2009-winnings, arc, historical

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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Jun 11, 2012 Neha rated it 2 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: 2012-reads, ebook, first-in-series, historical-fiction, historical-romance

The book is the first in the Black Cobra Series. It has characters from the Cynster and Bastion series coming in. While it was good to read about the stories of the side-characters from other series and follow-up on characters of the older series, the book itself was very O.K.

The story of the Untamed Bride is the same, a group of officers with the East India Company, posted in India are summoned by the Governor to stop the menance of the Black Cobra, a cult which has terrorized the country and...more

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Sep 26, 2012 Jenna rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: bought-it-from-the-bookstore, historical-romance-thriller

According to "Columbus Dispatch" that this book, is like an elaborate wedding cake: rich, decadent, and covered in layers of sumptuous treats........and I agree the story is well-written, fast-paced, and sinfully sexy :)) The plot and the characters are well-made.

Colonel Delborough was assigned at East India Company stationed in Calcutta. He was one of the "Bastion Club" member who was entrust to bring the scroll-holder back to England as a decoy, and overtake the Black Cobra's movement from Ind...more

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Jan 05, 2011 Heather Book Savvy Babe rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance, romance

*3-3.5 stars* I enjoyed this book. I found it at the library with a nice group of Stephanie Laurens books, I figured that I would give the author a try. I enjoyed the story line, this book is the first in a four book series, about 4 soldiers with a final mission, and each book is each soldier's story. This book was about Del, and Deliah. I liked the characters very much, but I felt that at times the romance was a bit forced, that may not be the correct word, but close enough I guess. I will be r...more

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Apr 11, 2012 Trish rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-romance

This book was sitting in my Books To Read basket for quite awhile. I picked it up last week as bedtime reading figuring I'd read a few pages a few nights a week. Yeah right! I couldn't put this book down. Stephanie Laurens is one of my fave authors, and one of the few authors I buy by author recognition alone. I was not disappointed. What engaging characters! Though I find I'm skipping over sex scenes more often than not (& I do this in most historical romances I'm reading), I love the hero...more

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Jan 07, 2013 Christine rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

After the disappointing 'Mastered by Love' in January, I took a 2 month break from Lauren's tales of romance and spies. After reading the first of her Black Dagger Quartet series, I'm happy I gave Lauren's another try. Like all of Lauren's books-the hero is a strong male (military man Del) and the heroine a tall, sensuous woman with a strong personality (Deliah). Del is on a secret mission bringing him from India to England, while Deliah is traveling from Jamaica to England. When she becomes ent...more

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Sep 08, 2011 Abi rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: re-read

I'm re-reading the whole Black Cobra Quartet, and I'm glad to say that I am. I'm actually reading it in chronological order this time, seeing as last time i started with the third book, followed by the second, the first, but at least i ended it right.

Also, this was my second Stephanie Laurens book, so while i was reading this, I had no idea who the Cynsters were and any of the Bastion Club men, all i knew about them was that they were all handsome, rugged and very dangerous. Either way, I enjoye...more

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Oct 12, 2012 Mindy rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I liked a great deal of this book but it is a bit wordy. The concept is very good and I loved the characters--a group of expert soldiers resign their commissions to pursue the Black Cobras, a terrorist organization much like the mob. When one of the soldiers finds proof that an english lord is connected to the Black Cobras and is murdered the rest of the soldiers are in a race to get the proof to England and into the hands of a source that can prosecute the villains. This story follows one of th...more

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Apr 26, 2012 Helene Harrison rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: best-books-ever, genre-historical, setting-regency, i-own, author-female, genre-romance, 2000s-publication, setting-british, genre-erotica, format-paperback

The Untamed Bride and The Elusive Bride are my two favourite Stephanie Laurens books. This, the first in the Black Cobra quartet, combines romance with mystery and intrigue and danger. I know the others in the series do too, but this one drew me in BECAUSE it's so different to other Regency romances. I read Julia Quinn before Stephanie Laurens and Julia Quinn recommended her books to her readers so I thought why not. It was well worth the effort, because it's a very gripping story and very funny...more

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Aug 06, 2012 Andrea rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I wish I could give this a 4 1/2 stars. Because the only reason it did not get a perfect 5 star was because the beginning was a bit hard to follow at first. I loved the little bit of humor that was scattered throughout the book. I love how Deliah is a curvy woman and that Del loves that. Being a curvy girl myself, when a woman is written to be not curvy, it makes me feel like my curves are not a good thing.

This was the first by this author that I have read, but it was hard to put this one down,...more

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Apr 05, 2010 Rachel Rogers rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Good enough to make me want to read on and backtrack through the Cynster books. Went on a bit long and in the last hour the heroine cast more secrets into her back story but never explained them. A little odd unless it's really laying groundwork for something else, but that doesn't feel right. Anyway, Laurens' characters, story and larger meta-plot are all fairly engaging it's her use of the language that occasionally, thus the former keeps me reading despite the cringes caused by the latter.

Del...more

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Jan 13, 2012 Sara rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, romance

An intriguing and entertaining first in a series of books about military men resigning their commissions in order to bring back evidence from India to convict and put a stop to a man who has been terrorizing the Indian people and stealing from Her Majesty's coffers. In this one, the first of 4 men hit England's shores, only to find himself encumbered by a female and her household. Thankfully, she's no shrinking violet and managed to get involved and save him as often as he saves her. Naturally,...more

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About Stephanie Laurens

Stephanie Laurens was born in Sri Lanka, which was at the time the British colony of Ceylon. When she was 5, her family moved to Melbourne, Australia, where she was raised. After continuing through school and earning a Ph.D. in Biochemistry in Australia, Laurens and her husband moved to Great Britain, taking one of the last true overland journeys from Katmandu to London.

Once in London, Laurens and...more

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The Untamed Bride (Black Cobra Quartet #1)

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