The Ideal Bride

"NewYorkTimes"bestsellingauthorStephanieLaurenshascreatedsomeofromance'smostunforgettablenovels.Nowshehascreatedhermostprovocativelovestory--andamazinghero--todate.Thisisthebookthatdarestoaskthequestion:Whoisthisman'sidealbride?MichaelAnstruther-WetherbyisarisingmemberofParliament--amandestinedforpower.Aristocratic,elegant,andeffortlesslycharming,heisjustarrogantenoughtocapturetheinterestoftheladiesoftheton.AndwithhisconnectionstothewealthyandinfluentialCynsterfamily--hissisterismarriedtoDevilCynster,theDukeofSt.Ives--hisfutureappearsassured.ExceptthatMichaellacksthesinglemostimportantelementofsuccess:awife.Politicalpressuresendshimsearchingforhisidealbride,agentlybred,malleableyounglady,preferablyonewithapoliticalbackground.Michaeldiscoverssuchaparagonbutfindsaformidableobstacleinhispath--theyounglady'sbeautiful,strong-mindedaunt--CarolineSutcliffe.OneofLondon'sforemostdiplomatichostesses,Carohasstyleandstatusbut,havinglivedthroughanunhappypoliticalmarriage,wantsnothingofthesortforherniece,whohasalreadylostherhearttoanother.SoCaroandtheyoungerwomanhatchaplot--CarowilldemonstratewhyaninexperiencedyoungladyisnotthebrideforMichael.Shesucceedsinconvincinghimthatwhathereallyneedsisaladyofexperiencebyhisside.Andtheperfectcandidateisrightunderhisnose--Caroherself.ThenitisMichael'sturntobepersuasive,ataskthatrequireseveryounceofhisseductivecharmashetemptsandtantalizesCaro,seekingtoconvinceherthatbecominghisbridewillbringherallherheartdesires...andmore.Butthenaseriesofmysterious,anddangerous,accidentsbefallCaro--anassailanthassteppedinwiththeirownideaforCaro'sfuture--onethatcouldinvolvemurder.BeforeCarocanbecomeMichael'sidealbride,theymustracetouncovertheunknown'sidentitybeforeallhopeofwhattheylongfor,andwishfor,isdestroyed.