Split personalities
“Heart of Fire” by Kat Martin
Sheridan and I were at the bookstore near the RMB offices the other day (this was before the delivery of our Patricia Gaffney books) and trying to decide what to read. Thin Pale Scary Lady floated like a wraith from behind the counter, and handed me the latest Kat Martin book. I must confess, I’ve liked a lot of Kat Martin books in the past, but her new books have left a decided chill factor (more on that later). But not knowing the delight which was lying in store for me (i.e “To Have And To Holdâ€) I thought, what the heck, I have nothing to lose. Except possibly my appetite, time, and hair from excessive tugging.
“Heart of Fire†is the second in Kat Martin’s new Heart trilogy. It’s not as good as some of her older books like “Silk and Steel†and “Sweet Vengeance,†but it’s leaps better than “Heart of Honour,†the first book in the series. Heart of Honour featured Krista Hart, editor of a women’s magazine in London, and how she discovered love with a Viking hero, Leif, who’d been captured and put in a cage as a circus exhibit. Leif had come from a lost island of Vikings off the coast of Scotland. Yes, you heard me. If you’re saying to yourself, hey, there’s a raniew crying out to be written right there, and more opportunity for La Lola’s rapier wit and oh-so-cunning observations, you’re out of luck my friend. I actually don’t remember much about “Heart of Honour.†I think it’s post-traumatic stress disorder or something.
Anyway with Heart of Fire, Krista’s best friend Coralee Whitmore is on the prowl. She’s just discovered that her sister’s death might not have been a suicide, and is determined to rout out the killer. Which brings her to Castle Tremaine, where she encounters Grayson Forsythe, the Earl of Tremaine. Corries is convinced that because Gray’s wife also died under similar suspicious circumstances, he’s got “Baddie†written all over him with permanent marker.
She infiltrates Castle Tremaine (why do I get reminded of Bela Lugosi?) in the guise of a poor country relation, Letty Moss, the wife of Gray’s distant cousin. She tells Gray that her husband is away in America, and asks to live with Gray and his family and because Gray wants to get under Letty’s crinoline, he acquiesces, even though he suspects Letty is not what she seems. Yeah well, seeing as how you could fly the A380 through the holes in Letty’s story, I’d be suspicious too.
Corrie’s true identity and attempt to discover the murderer of her sister is eventually revealed to Gray, but not before they’ve given in to the smokin’ sexual chemistry and done the fandango. Gray is furious that Corrie has deceived him; he liked Letty’s unspoilt country ways, and blames Corrie for her loss. But way to go Gray. There’s nothing wrong with seducing the wife of your distant cousin, makes family reunions even more of a joy to get through.
I didn’t think “Heart of Fire†was fantastic, but it was an entertaining enough diversion to while away an afternoon. It’s nothing that we haven’t read before. Spunky, historically inaccurate virgin heroine. Masculine, powerful, well-endowed hero. Truly, it’s as if the hero’s big wahwoo to a heroine is like a sun in the midnight sky. And of course, who can resist a man who compares you to “a tigress coming into her first season.†Uh huh. Someone’s been watching too much Animal Planet obviously.
After Corrie and Gray are forced to marry, Gray blames her for “destroying Letty,†and not being the sweet country girl he thinks he wants. But eventually they form an uneasy truce, and Corrie falls in love with Gray. Pretty hard not to (see above paragraph on the prodigy in Gray’s pants). Corrie and Gray now have to discover who really killed Corrie’s sister, since attempts have been made on Corrie’s life as well. And just when it seems Gray will accept Corrie for his wife, he accidentally calls out Letty’s name in the throes of passion. I guess it’s tough when you have to compete with, well, yourself, for your husband’s affection. “How dare you fight me for my husband’s love! Take that you hussy!” *slap on left cheek* “Don’t blame me if you can’t keep your man happy!” *slap on right cheek*
If you’re wondering whether Corrie and Gray discover the identity of her sister’s killer, you haven’t read many romances have you? And if you’re wondering whether Gray will always have a thrill in his trousers, then the answer is yes; elephants will always look away in shame when he approaches.
Wendy said,
January 28, 2008 @ 3:21 am
“it’s leaps better than “Heart of Honour,†the first book in the series”
The words *could hardly be worse* just naturally spring to mind, don’t they.
I kinda enjoyed the jealous-of-herself thing. I’ve encountered that situation with the hero before (Beast by Judith Ivory, The Bride Thief by Jackie D’Allessandro) and it’s always fun.