In Pursuit of Eliza Cynster by Stephanie Laurens

Eliza Cynster is being closely watched by all of her family following the kidnapping of her older sister, Heather, and the only known fact that a mysterious laird needs one of the Cynster sisters.  Which one exactly, no one knows and as a result, they are all closely being monitored.  So when at his sisters engagement ball, Eliza receives a mysterious note from a mysterious suitor, she decides to pursue it and in the process, her own kidnapping adventure begins.  Eliza is not as brave or bold as Heather but she knows she needs to find out more of the whys behind the kidnappings.  Unfortunately, this time the man hired to kidnap her drugs her with laudanum for most of the journey across the border but Eliza finally gets one chance to make an impassioned plea out the carriage window to a curricle passing by.

Jeremy Carling is a bit startled by the face he briefly sees on his way home and it takes him a few moments to connect the dots as to who the young lady was and what she was yelling.  He can not believe that it is Eliza and that she was yelling help.  After all, he knows a bit about the previous kidnapping and knows Eliza was being closely watched.  He knows he needs to rescue her though and sets about just such a course.  Eliza is also a bit startled to have recognized Jeremy, dedicated scholar, and does not hold out much hope that he will swoop in and rescue her.  She is delighted when he sneaks up to her window and together they devious their escape plan.  The escape plan is pretty simple to Jeremy, they will ride hard to her relatives and avoid needing to spend a night alone together.  Eliza throws a pretty big wrench into that plan though and they are forced to take a very long, twisty way back to avoid Elizas captor and the laird and spend five nights together.  Which, you know, leads to all sorts of steamy fun! 

Overall, this book was enjoyable but I didn't enjoy it as much as the previous one.  I felt like it a bit of the same plot, with new twists and turns, but still a bit too similar for my tastes.  I really liked Jeremy as he is one of my favorite types of heroes...quiet, scholarly and determined.  I liked Eliza but I didn't really warm up to as much as Jeremy but together, together they were good!  I liked how they just took each day as it came and would deal with the requisite consequences (marriage) later and how they were ok with that.  No big 'I won't marry without love' deal.  Well, there was a bit on Elizas part but Jeremy really stepped up to the plate and made his feelings known for Eliza before she gathered too many doubts.  The best part of this book, for me, was learning a bit more about the mysterious laird and I really can not wait for the next book and it looks like it is going to be full of spirited fun!  Overall, though, this is a good, exciting adventure with a sweet love story that you get to watch bloom into a beautiful ending.  4 stars

I received this book from the publisher via netgalley.com

Cynster Sisters Trilogy
Can be read out of order but Viscount Breckenridge to the Rescue: A Cynster Novel (Cynster Sisters Trilogy) was excellent so do read it!

Book Three: The Capture of the Earl of Glencrae (Cynster Sisters Trilogy) out Jan 31, 2012