Colonel Derek “Del” Delborough and four of his friends have been tasked by the Governor-General of India to bring down the Black Cobra, head of a cult that has been terrorizing Indian villages, raping, pillaging, and murdering Indians and Englishmen alike.  After discovering the identity of the Black Cobra, Del and his men know that to bring them down, they’re going to need hard evidence and help from the powerful Duke of Wolverstone.  Del’s mission becomes personal when one of his friends is killed by the Black Cobra’s men while securing the evidence they need.  Under Wolverstone’s instructions, Del and his friends split up, one carrying the original piece of evidence, the other three carrying decoys.  Each is heading to England by a separate route; and that’s just the beginning of Del’s adventure. 

Arriving in Southampton, Del receives word from his aunts that he needs to escort a neighbor back home with him.  Since Del is on a mission, he absolutely refuses to do so.  Too bad for him Miss Deliah Duncannon, has no intention of being packed off by herself.  As Deliah is drawn into Del’s mission, the now-retired colonel realizes that while he has faced off against numerous enemies, he has no chance against one brash, stunning Englishwoman, or his attraction to her.  The Black Cobra’s men are closing in on the pair, but possibly more frightening to both than losing their lives is the possibility of losing their hearts. 

Though the Black Cobra Quartet is all new, The Untamed Bride is classic Stephanie Laurens.  It has a strong, protective hero, an unconventional, intelligent heroine, romance to warm your heart, and action a plenty.  Del is a hero straight out of Ms. Laurens’s library with his strong sense of honor and his acknowledgment that he’s powerless to resist his desire for the woman destined to be his.  As for Deliah, she’s a woman with a somewhat scandalous past who may seem unusual among women of her time, but fits right in with Ms. Laurens’s other heroines.  The similarities to previous heroes and heroines is apparent because the Cynster cousins, Bastion Club members, and their wives all play strong supporting roles in The Untamed Bride.  Readers new to Ms. Laurens’s work do not have to fear being lost, for The Untamed Bride is written to stand on its own.  Those already familiar with Ms. Laurens’s books will likely enjoy revisiting some of their favorite characters once more; I definitely did. 

While the romance between Del and Deliah is at the heart of The Untamed Bride, equally important is the baiting game the group plays with the Black Cobra and his men.  I was drawn into Del’s mission and avidly read the story to see what would happen next in terms of intrigue, every bit as much as I did for the love story.  All in all, The Untamed Bride was a satisfying read and a strong start to what is sure to be an exciting quartet.  I’m eager to see what happens next and as such, can’t wait to read book two in the Black Cobra Quartet, The Elusive Bride.