12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Lust is not Love..., July 24, 2001
This review is from: Devil's Prize (Mass Market Paperback)
Kat Martin is one of my favorite authors. She always knows how to weave unique and heart quenching stories, that is why I have read a lot of her works. I have also enjoyed every single one of them except for this unfortunate one. As you have read in the above Editorial Review's, the plot does have potentials. The beginning of this book was actually 'pulling' and quite interesting. Damien was also an intriguing hero. Aside from his rakish reputation, he lived a dangerous life and has many secrets. I enjoyed the way he seduces Alexa. I love his charms and the way he carry himself. The heroine however was a bit too senseless to fully like. I mean, in the beginning, she was very likable. Alexa is a very beautiful heiress. Many nobleman doted on her yet she doesn't let that get to her head. She is spunky, rebellious and supposedly intelligent and witty. Hmmm... so i don't understand how and why she ended up doing the most oafish acts. The first time she manage to get herself and Damien in trouble, I actually slammed-SHUT the book. Mind you, I do like frustrating twisters but what she did was just totally dumb and OUT OF PLACE. I decided to give the book another try the next day. Who knows she might make up for that foolishness. YEA, RIGHT~! I agree with one reviewer here who said that Alexa definitely have no sense of the danger she puts herself and her husband in. I understand she is young and a bit impulsive but my gosh, how can someone simply blurt out a serious accusation about ones husband, someone who supposedly she was already half in love with. How can someone blab-out confidential informations and to a stranger, no less! Oh, of which I might add that she doesn't even have a proper proof or first hand knowledge of the informations and accusation she was blabbering about. Ugh. Perhaps Kat Martin wanted Alexa to sound naive and patriotic at the same time but I just can't comprehend how a girl who is supposedly well educated can exhibit a lack of power to absord the tiniest idea or impression such as SAFETY. If she can't trust her husband, how can she simply trust a complete stranger? I don't get it. This is the main reason why even in the end, I still wasn't convince that there is love between both of them. Even Damien's so called LOVE to Alexa was not credible enough to leave a lasting mark on me. Their strong physical attraction, their great sexual acts and perhaps even their dangerous adventure was what kept them both together. In my opinion, their relationship was base more on lust than love. If not for the interesting beginning, the French-English-SPY plot, Damien's character and the sexual tension, I would have rated this book a 2 stars.
NOTE: The prequel of this book is SWEET VENGEANCE. Story of Rayne and Jo, brother/sister-in-law of Alexa. They were pretty much involved all throughout this book that they have piqued my interest. Had I known this book has a prequel, I would have read it first. Yes, I haven't read S.V yet but I believe I will once I get a chance. This unfortunate experience with Devil's Prize definitely didn't discourage me from reading more of Kat Martin works. I still believe she is a gifted and a talented writer. To be honest, this book isn't too bad. But it's not up to Kat Martin's usual style and standard either. Well, try this one anyway... who knows, u might like it more than I have.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
I wanted to give this book a 3, but........., May 18, 2002
By A Customer
This review is from: Devil's Prize (Mass Market Paperback)
I really, really wanted to give Devil's Prize a 3 or higher. I was really anticipating reading Rayne's (Sweet Vengeance) sister's story. Alexandra/Alex/Alexa seemed very headstrong, if not intelligent in Sweet Vengeance. So, why when she gets her own story in Devil's Prize, does she act like a complete ninny?
The plot of this book is fueled by revenge. Damien Falon seeks Alexa out to avenge the death of his brother Peter. He believes that Peter's unrequited love for Alexa is what caused his death. After "winning" a night with Alexa, Damien compromises her, but he ends up married to her instead. Later on, Damien realizes that Alexa was not responsible for his brother's death, as he assumed, but by then he has laid a horrible ground for mistrust between his young bride and himself.
Alexa is impetuous in this book. Whether she is doing this to hide her grief at Peter's death or Ms. Martin is showing us through Alexa's actions how immature the heroine is, we may never know. I felt that Alexa's immaturity and mistrust is what caused Damien and she a lot of heartache and pain throughout the book.
We find out early that Alexa isn't responsible for Peter's death (although the "real" reason he died isn't revealed until the epilogue), and Damien tries to make amends. Still, she holds onto this mistrust, while claiming to fall in love with Damien. Her mistrust leads her to believe that her husband is a spy for the French, and, again, we see how her mistrust for Damien leads him into peril, danger, and harm. It seems like every time she struggled with her "love" for Damien, she ends up doing something stupid to contradict that.
I wanted the story of Alexa and Damien to work. There are some explosive and passionate love scenes in the book. But, I kept screaming in the back of my mind that Damien deserved better than Alexa!! And, when Alexa was getting herself into trouble, I kept praying that Rayne would appear to help her!!
Alexa does redeem herself toward the end of the book, but by then I was already so peeved at her, I didn't care. I only wish that Alexa had been more of a heroine instead of impulsive and immature. And if she hadn't betrayed Damien so many times, I would have believed she loved him.
Devil's Prize rates a 5 for Kat Martin; 4 for the sensuality, 5 for Damien, and Maybe a 1 for Alexa.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
An irritating heroine, February 15, 2001
This review is from: Devil's Prize (Mass Market Paperback)
Alexa has no sense of the danger that she is getting herself and her husband into, with her constant questioning of his integrity and naive and untrained efforts to spy for the English. I finally couldn't take her anymore and dumped the book; give me a smarter heroine than this one every time! The sex is hot, but you probably already guessed that.
Help other customers find the most helpful reviews
Was this review helpful to you? Yes
No
