Customer Reviews

The Devil's Necklace

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Setting - London 1805 --- Ethan Sharpe, is a British privateer whose innermost goal in life was to see Harmon Jeffries, the traitor responsible for his brutal years in prison and the vicious deaths of his crew punished. To that end, when he discovered the person who aided Jeffries, was a woman by the name of Grace Chastain, and believing her to be Jeffries' mistress, he raided a ship she was on, captured and brought her back to his own ship where he planned to humiliate his enemy by seducing his woman.

Grace had to aid the man that all thought was a traitor; she couldn't let him hang even knowing that her life would be forfeit should she be caught. When she was captured by the brooding sea captain with murder in his eyes, Grace thought the priceless heirloom necklace, given to her by her best friend, promising either great happiness or great tragedy to the wearer was certainly living up to the latter part of the legend as she was forced to resist the coarse advances of the boorish and crude sea captain.

During the voyage, as Ethan finally came to believe that the woman was not who he imagined her to be and was beginning to admire her spunk and courage, the seduction he planned became his hearts desire. After one totally blissful and sensually exciting encounter, and Ethan realized she was an innocent, Grace explained away her connection to Jeffries. Totally dismayed by this revelation, Ethan would have to decide if he could lay aside his vengeance long enough to come to terms with and follow his heart's desire or let hatred rule his life.

*** This was a smashing sequel to Martin's newest trilogy that started with THE BRIDE'S NECKLACE. The main protagonists torment was vividly written and forcefully brought home in this tremendously emotional and exciting adventure. Martin does an amazing job with insinuating all the nuances of betrayal, longing and sensual delight in her writing. The dialogs are smart, witty, and fresh and invites the reader in to become a part of the drama in this latest, totally stand-alone, entry to the trilogy. While I could understand Ethan's torment of loving Grace, knowing who she was, I truly would have liked to kick his (...) for his obstinacy, and wept tears of joy when the author brought him along to accept and charish the gift he'd actually been given. This is another absolutely marvelous romantic adventure by one very talented author I highly recommend.

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I had a feeling when I read about Ethan in the Bride book he was going to be a very compelling character. He did not disappoint. And even though he should have been just racked with dispair and revenge he still managed to have so much heart and so many feelings. I mean this man's crew, almost all of them lost their lives due to a traitor - a traitor Ethan believes is his beloved Grace's father. How unbelievalby challenging that would be for a man, and a captain. Ethan truly falls in love with Grace and she him - it is really intense. Grace understands how Ethan must set her aside because of who she is - however their mutual friends intervene and they thus become wed. Usually when the hero tries to keep his feelings in check and not fall in love with the wife you want to bash him. In this case, it was so understandable why Ethan kept fighting his feelings. When Grace overhears the former crew member calling Ethan a traitor for marrying Grace she really does understand how impossible their marriage is. There are so many heartwrenching scenes in this book. The characters from the Bride book return and are even more endearing in this second of the trilogy. The mystery of the traitor is a good one and the way it wraps around the love story of Ethan and Grace is powerful. This is one book I highly recommend - I think it would be good to read the Brides Necklace first as I found myself rereading it while I read this one, just to get a true understanding of all the players. This is one that deserves more than 5 stars!

This is the 2nd novel by Kat Martin I read. I also read "Innocence Undone" by this author (so-so). I thought this author had promise as her story lines have some depth and her characters very animated. I was hopeful that this next book would be more developed and have deeper character interests than the first book I read. Unfortunately...I liked it even less.

Some of the reviews noted that the book had wit, the story line was gripping, the love between the two emotional etc......I did not find any of that to be the case.

The book actually started out much better than the middle and ending. Reason...at least in the beginning Ethan was a dashing pirateer who sailed the high seas, taking his rightful bounty and protecting his men. In turn, Grace was a strong, independent and thinking woman who was feisty and bold upon her capture from the pirate captain Ethan. Their early meetings had fire works, interesting dialogue and thoughtful insights as to what each was thinking about the other. They got together very early in the book physically and once they both went back to land and took up their original wealthy lives well...the story got dull.

Grace suddenly turned into this boring and un-spirited miss once she got pregnant and married Ethan. Instead of taking control of her life and destiny, she seems to allow him to control everything which is at odds with the girl we first meet in the book who will do anything to save her father's life, will bribe pirates to let her go, swim across the cold channel waters to save herself etc. Where did that girl with fire and zest go? It's a mystery.

In turn, Ethan turns into this dull land locked fella who constantly denies how he feels about Grace and runs from her at every opportunity once he is forced into marrying her over the child. Even after his child is born he remains cold, aloof and distant through most of the book.

I don't enjoy novels that dwell only on the physical sides of relationships - sex, sex, sex. That's all this book was about - how much he wanted her physically (rarely about liking her, enjoying her, loving her, etc.). In turn, she loves him early on but, doesn't seem to fight for what she wants they way she should have. The two of them have plenty of intimate scenes but, without deep and abiding and respectful love for the other...the lust feels a bit empty.

The ending of the story was neat and tidy - too perfect to really be of interest.

Many fans who like her books will probably be used to this style of writing and might enjoy this read. It just wasn't for me. I wanted to root Grace and Ethan on as characters but, there just wasn't enough interest or depth to them to do that.

This author is two for two so far - and that means two I didn't care for. Wish I could give higher stars but, I'll look elsewhere for writers who appeal to me more emotionally.

The second story in the "Bride's Necklace" trilogy is a fine addition indeed to this series. Ethan and Grace are well crafted characters and their conflict is truly a conflict in every sense of the word.

Ethan Sharpe is seeking revenge after the traitor that was responsible for ship and crew being discovered and killed by the French. He seeks the one that paid for the monsters release from prison before the hangman could seek him justice. He claims Grace from another ship with plans to turn her over to the authorities once she gives up the location of her lover. Ethan is shocked though when Grace ends up being nothing like he thought she should be. When Grace finally admits her dark secret to Ethan he backs away from her. He can never love the woman that she is with her connection to the traitor, but the problem with this is...no matter how far he sails he can't get her out of his mind nor his heart. Will he allow himself to finally find peace and happiness, or will he let revenge take a bigger piece of his soul than it already has?

Grace Chastain loves Ethan against her better judgement. She knows why he has turned from her, it still doesn't change the fact that her heart is his. Will she be strong enough to see this through and help her hearts desire settle his demons once and for all?

This was a very good read! Ms. Martin as deftly woven her magic here! Ethan and Grace are again compelling characters, and their situation is a true test of love. Tori and Cord are present as well, and we are introduced to our next hero Rafe. Ms. Martin is a true talent and one that I highly recommend.

Official Reviewer for Romance Designs

The Devil's Necklace by Kat Martin is fun historical mystery romance novel. This is the second book of the Necklace triology. Grace helps her biological father escape jail and Captain Sharpe arrests/kidnapps Grace because she helped with the escape. This book has some great twist and has some amazing heartache. Enjoy! Check out The necklace trilogy:The Bride's Necklace (1), The Devil's Necklace (2) and The Handmaiden's Necklace (3).

Exciting characters and a heroine with spunk throughout the entire book. Nothing like a woman to keep things interesting and exciting in 1800s England. It didn't hurt to have a handsome hunk after her either. This book was the second in the trilogy, so if you haven't read The Bride's Necklace, read it first, then The Devil's Necklace. I am waiting to read the third now which is The Handmaiden's Necklace. Kat Martin is an excellent writer and I've found all the books I've read of hers to be really exciting.

In 1805, Grace Chastain borrows money from her Aunt Matilda Crenshaw to hire Jack Moody to free her father from Newgate. Although she has never met Viscount Harmon Jeffries, she cannot sit by and allow her sire to hang from the gallows for treason even if he is guilty.

British privateer captain of the Sea Witch Ethan Sharpe stops the Lady Anne at sea. He proclaims passenger Grace Chastain committed sedition having abetted a traitor to escape justice. Ethan abducts her onto his ship where he demands she tell him the whereabouts of her lover Harmon. Because of a promise she made, Grace fails to correct his error. Ethan is irate with himself because he is attracted to Grace, but outraged that she freed the man who sold his previous ship and crew to the French. Most of the men died while he lingered in prison. Since she remains obstinate, he decides to seduce his enemy's lover; he succeeds only to find he made love to a virgin. As they fall in love, he learns she is the daughter of his foe.

Though the Regency audience will empathize with the demons that haunt Ethan and his understandable obsession towards the heroine's father accentuated by falling in love with his enemy's "mistress", Grace's courage whether it is on land or sea makes the tale. She is fabulous, abetting her father who she never met or challenging the sea captain she loves. Though the climax is too neatly and abruptly wrapped up, the sequel to the BRIDE'S NECKLACE, THE DEVIL'S NECKLACE is an intriguing Regency romantic suspense thriller that fans will enjoy and look forward to the jewelry moving on to the next protagonist.

Harriet Klausner

This book is the opposite of the first in the series. In THE BRIDE'S NECKLACE I had a hard time getting into the book but it got better as it progressed. THE DEVIL'S NECKLACE started out very interesting but I lost interest in it in the second half.

THE DEVIL'S NECKLACE began strong. Ethan is out to seek revenge on the man who killed his crew and betrayed him. Grace is that man's daughter. Ethan kidnaps Grace off a boat and takes her hostage. They eventually fall in love.

My problems with this book began with Grace herself. She starts the book out very strong and the author constantly tells us how strong she is. By the end of the book she is practically crawling around begging forgiveness. Maybe if she had started weak it would be okay, but the dramatic change in her character didn't work for me. My second issue with the book is that you just want to yell at him to get over it already. Yes, he is upset, but he needs to leave or get over it. My goodness. His brooding and her begging are enough to drive the reader crazy.

If you are a fan of Kat Martin, you might like this book. I have only read the Necklace series (so this is my second book by her). I have the final book in this series, but am hesitant to read it. I am sure I will eventually, but don't think I will ever read another Kat Martin book after that. I like books with a bit more wit and humor.

I think I expected Ethan to be a little more of a forceful character, having read about him already. I found him rather timid. He and Grace never clicked in my opinion. Even in the end, they seemed more cordial than comfortable with each other.

Ethan, the British privateer (and earl) who yanks Lady Grace off another vessel in 1805, makes one very dashing hero -- as long as they're at sea. The relationship that develops despite his belief that Grace is the mistress of the traitor who sold information to the French -- information that led to Ethan's long, brutal imprisonment in France -- is spritely.

But once they're back in England, it's as if these two lively characters never existed. He broods. She pines. He's hostile and distant, denying himself the physical relationship he had once enjoyed. She's bored. As are we. I also read The Bride's Necklace, the first book in this trilogy, but this is probably the last Kat Martin I will try.