Customer Reviews

Heart of Courage

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4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
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Heart of Courage by Kat Martin

Historical Romance Mass Market Paperback - January 1, 2009
4 stars

Heart of Courage is the third book in the Historical Heart Trilogy. This series takes place in the 1800's England. Although women of this period are traditionally reserved and demur, the heroine, Lindsey is no such lady. She is an adventurous, smart, and unconventional young woman who is on a mission to prove her brother is innocent of a series of heinous crimes.

Of course, a woman in the 1800's cannot be out on her own solving crimes, so a work colleague, Thor, agrees to help her on her quest. When Thor is first introduced, he is a stiff, conservative man, but I am happy to say that as the story unfolds so does Thor. As the book progresses, so does the soft vulnerabilities of this proud Viking.

This book begins as Thor does, stiff, but it's a case where patience really pays off. By the middle of the book, you become wrapped up in the story. By the end, it's a book that cannot be put down.

The love scenes are steamy and the hero is strong, but it is the heroine that really steals the show. She's one of those characters that stick with you and in the end; you really feel that she deserves a happy ending. Overall, this book is well written and worth the time it takes to read it.

Reviewed by Amy from Bookaholics Romance Book Club

I have not really been enthralled with Kat Martin's Heart Series, the first book was okay but this last one was just not engaging, the plot was predictable and the characters were stubborn.

Lindsey Graham is a society reporter who has a wastrel brother accused of murdering prostitutes and she knows he just has to be innocent. Lindsey overlooks her brother's excessive gaming and drunken nights. She is going to find the true murderer and she highly resents that Thor Draugr, her employer's brother-in-law, is going to stop her.

Thor is a self appointed body guard to Lindsey and when she is almost raped and killed in an incredibly foolhardy plan he saves her. She is grateful and accepts his proffered assistance. She is attracted to Thor and initially all they did was argue but she does appreciate the value in having a strong man around. She snoops in bawdy houses and pubs looking for clues that the police could never hope to find.

She is attracted to Thor and wants to become his lover as she is not a maiden. Seems she was curious about sex and indulged in some with a former suitor when she was in her teens. Thor resists but she is persistent. She does not love him but is still curious about the whole bedding experience with him. Thor is not a titled man, he has some means but nowhere near what Lindsey's family possesses and he feels they should not engage in a physical affair but Lindsey does not listen that well.

The two begin an affair while they are still searching for clues to the killer. Thor even has the time to tame a horse, apparently he is an early horse whisperer, and he still manages to track down informants and leads for Lindsey.

This novel never really got off the ground for me. Lindsey just seemed self involved and made way too many excuses for her brother. Thor was stubborn and at times overbearing. The mystery was not important to me as I thought Lindsey's brother was a wastrel and spoiled. Finally the romantic tension was missing in the beginning of the story and the initial conversations between the leads always felt stilted and unnatural. I have thoroughly enjoyed other novels by Kat Martin, in fact many are on my keeper shelf, this however will not be one of them.

Saying the opening is stiff is an understatement. The writing and plotting of the first 100 plus pages were a slog to get through. It seems like Kat Martin submitted a fleshed out outine, not a real novel; sort of like she needed a third book to complete the trilogy, but the novel she produced is not completely committed. Overall this trilogy was definitely not up to Kat Martin's other books.
This book was by far the worst. The dialogue was clunky, almost like narration instead of realistic conversations. Lindsey and Thor's love story was neither compelling nor complex. While the book did get better, it was still not very good and not worth the 5 days it took to finish it. It could've been so much better, but the whole concept with Thor as a viking in regency times and Lindsey as the too forward, amateur sleuth who falls in love with him just did not work. I hope the next Bride trilogy is better, or else I'll have to cross Kat Martin off my buy list.

When Lindsey Graham's brother Rudy is accused of murder, Lindsey sets out on a dangerous campaign to clear his name. Lindsey's employer sends her brother-in-law Thor Draugr to help Lindsey. Thor and Lindsey butt heads at every turn, but it doesn't stop an attraction from building between them. They have no future together. Thor is looking to settle down with a woman who is nothing like head-strong Lindsey, and Lindsey doesn't think Thor is a proper gentleman, but that doesn't stop them from acting on that attraction. As the danger grows, so does their passion.

Lindsey's character changes the rigid air of propriety that is usually present for women in historical regencies. Not only is she her own woman, but she's accepted for it. Thor brings another refreshing aspect to the story as well. His Nordic ancestry, looks and attitude, are very different from the English. At the very beginning, Thor and Lindsey seem incompatible, but they quickly become a good match. Lindsey has a fiery and adventurous personality, and while Thor worries for her and tries at times to rein her in, he does not stifle her. He admires her tenacity and grows to love her for it. It's an angst-filled few hundred pages as Thor and Lindsey fight their destiny. Heart of Courage gets better and better as the story grows - the suspense gets thicker, the angst more intense, and the sex hotter. As the identity of the villain and his story is revealed, I felt torn between wanting to see justice met for his crimes and feeling sorry for his painful past. Heart of Courage is a little bit different and very good.

Nannette
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed

I really enjoyed the first two books in this series but this one fell short for me. Maybe because it seemed to follow the pattern of the two previous, that by the time I got to the third, I was bored? Think I would have rated higher if I had not read them so closely together.

I liked the strong characters in Heart of Courage. Interesting how forward-thinking Lindsey is during this period of time, but does not seem realistic unless she is a woman of independent means. Losing her virginity in her teens (16?) and then taking Thor as a lover as she is curious about sex? It certainly separated this book from scores of other 1800s books.

All things considered, it is worth the read.

In 1844 London, Lindsey Graham writes a gossip column under the pseudonym "Lady Smart" for Heart to Heart, a ladies' gazette. She enjoys the galas she attends listening serendipitously to secrets and trysts that she can reveal. However, she is stunned when scandal slams her family as her hedonistic brother Rudy is arrested for the Covent Garden murders.

Lindsey plans to prove her sibling's innocence by investigating the homicides. That means she will make inquiries into dens of iniquity, brothels and opium holes like her brother frequented. Her Gazette editor Krista Hart Draugr's brother-in-law Thor Draugr will not allow her to visit brothels and opium pits without him; he proclaims himself her bodyguard to her chagrin. As they argue and investigate they fall in love, but besides seeking a serial killer, he knows his station is way too low to be considered as her equal.

The third Heart Victorian romantic suspense mystery (see HEART OF FIRE and HEART OF HONOR) is a terrific tale starring two likable lead characters investigating the Covent Garden homicides. The story line is fast-paced with solid twists as the clues take the two amateur sleuths and the audience on an interesting tour of London; the final spin is superb. Readers will enjoy Kat Martin's fun trilogy especially the final thriller as the gossip columnist and the brother in law balance falling in love with conducting their dangerous inquiry.

Harriet Klausner

As always Kat Martin, has done it again. The tale is excellent, exciting, steamy, and thoroughly entertaining. You will find yourself glued to the pages, and will not be able to put it down until completely done. OK..I admit I should have not indulged quite so late at night, as getting up the next day was a feat. But it was certainly worth it...
READ this book.. Indulge and you WILL be Delighted !