Customer Reviews

Heart of Honor

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was hesitant to read this book, as I had read a contemporary by Kat Martin that left me cold, but I'm glad I put aside my reservations.

Miss Krista Hart is appalled when she attends the circus with her good friend Coralee and finds that as a sideshow the cruel owner has a caged man, the Last Barbarian - a man not of their time, but instead a relic from Sixteenth Century Norway.

Leif is a Viking, who left his home of Draugr Island to find the world beyond the antiquated systems his people have held to since being driven from Greenland. Instead, he is the sole survivor of his quest, and sold into slavery to the circus.

Krista, of course, rescues him (after he makes a very inappropriate comment about her, er, nether-regions in his own language, which Krista and her father both speak) and turns Leif over to her father, Professor Sir Praxton, who specializes in the Norse culture.

Within months, Leif is a gentleman - on the outside - and Krista is reluctantly attracted. Though Leif brashly declares his desire for Krista in his bed and as his wife, Krista is having none of it, knowing that their two worlds cannot come together.

From London to the mystical island of Draugr, this book leads the reader on a fast-paced, sensuous journey of love between to very interesting and bold characters. I loved Leif's bluntness and Krista's bemused response. The only downside, in my mind, is how little of the beginning of the book is spent purely on the physical attraction, and very little on the emotional growth of the characters, but overall, this is a book I will read again.

Krista Hart, is a publisher for a weekly ladies' gazette called "Heart to Heart." Krista is not afraid to speak her mind or do as she wishes despite the fact her reputation and her safety is on the line. This strong woman is shocked when she comes across a Viking in a circus sideshow and demands that he be released. Leif is the first man that has made her feel anything and even though she tries to fool herself she knows the attraction between them is strong--powerful. When her father turns savage into gentleman, Krista realizes she's in a great deal of trouble and her heart will not be the same. But when threats to Krista become more dangerous instead of facing them on her own she has a champion but will she let him be her hero?

I must admit this has not been one of my favorites by this author but it's not a story to be ignored either. The problems I encountered were few but note worthy. I found myself growing frustrated with Krista's viewpoint and attitude on more then one occasion, which is not a good thing when it comes to a lead character. Still, Leif is a strong counter-part to this and is what helps to balance this read. Ms. Martin is not afraid to tackle different issues and Women's right's is a touchy one when used in historic context. This story reminded me a little bit of "My Fair Lady" in reverse. Ms. Martin is a talented writer who is not afraid to be creative when constructing characters or plot. I would have just liked to have seen a little more softness in Krista. This is a fair read and will entertain. CK2S Kwips & Kritiques

The moment Krista Hart hears the star attraction at a freak show speak, she knows he is not a monster, but a man who speaks Old Norse and she manages to procure his freedom. Leif Draugr is the son of a chieftain of a lost tribe of Vikings who followed his heart to seek what was beyond his island home. He is sure that the gods have brought him and Krista together. As her father turns him into a gentleman, Krista begins to feel something for this warrior as well, but he is determined to return to his land. Though he promises to take her with him, she really does not want to go. She has duties to her family and to the magazine she produces, even if those could lock her in a loveless marriage or get her killed.

**** This is a compelling take on "My Fair Lady" with a touch of "Brigadoon" thrown in, as well a a ton of passion to round things out nicely. Once again, Ms. Martin has a winning tale that is sure to please anyone who loves a good romance. ****

Amanda Killgore

In 1842 Heart to Heart Weekly Ladies Gazette publisher Krista Hart attends the Circus Leopold traveling show. She and her friend reporter Coralee visit the star attraction billed as "The Last Barbarian". Krista feels sorry for the tall male locked inside a too small cage for his size until he speaks in his tongue to Alfinn the monkey that she is a "real woman". The extremely tall Krista speaks back to him in his language Old Norse, a language not used in at least three centuries, that he is in deed a barbarian to say such things about a woman. He begs for her forgiveness; she obtains his release and takes him with her.

Son of a Viking chieftain, Leif Draugr left his home Draugr Island to explore the world beyond the horizon. He believes his Gods gave him the wanderlust in order to meet his true love, Krista. As her father "civilianizes" him to behave like a proper gentleman in polite society and her grandfather selects shrimps for her to marry, he and Krista fall in love. However, he must return to his people because he is the next chieftain while she believes she belongs right here.

This is a fun whimsical early Victorian romance starring two individuals who do not quite fit in polite society. Leif believes the Fates left him shipwrecked six months ago and captured by a traveling circus so that he can meet his destiny, Krista. She loves her barbarian but feels she belongs with the magazine not his island though she likes the fact that he looks somewhat down at her eyes instead of her normal peering down at males. Though having Krista and her father speak his extinct language seems a stretch, readers will appreciate the Lady and the Barbarian as they fall in love.

Harriet Klausner

This was one of those quick read books that you just don't want to put down. I'm looking for the other two books of the triology. Does anyone know if they are out yet?

Kat Martin's has never disappointed me, and "Heart of Honor" is no exception. Delicious and fun to read!

i was rather disappointed with this book. i guess i should have guessed what the hero would be like since he was a viking, but i didn't. ok, so the basic plot is our viking hero is shipwrecked in england where he is taken captive and turned into a carnival sideshow. our heroine finds him and realizes he isn't crazy, he just speaks a different language, and she and her father rescue him.

ok, i had major issues with this book. first it seemed unrealistic and way to coincidental. then there was the hero - i wasn't fond of him. he was way to overbearing and annoying. he kidnaps the heroine and takes her to his island - after she has explained he has responsibilities and such in england... responsibilities he has seen first hand. basically, i didn't think he ever actually listened to our heroine, and he basically did what he wanted b/c he was bigger and stonger. our heroine was kind of flighty, and i wish she had more backbone and had stuck to her guns after being kidnapped. sorry, if you kidnap me and take away my free choice, you are history.

then our hero has to choose between honor and a promise made to his father and his love. he chooses his father (despite the fact that the village has apparently been getting on fine without him in the time he has been gone) and would turn his back on the woman he "loved" enough to kidnap.

basically if there is another book you are looking at, go for that one. this one was very disappointing, and not nearly as well written as some of her earlier novels. (to be honest, i wasn't as fond of scent of roses as i was her earlier novels either) if you want to read this, to check it out of the library, don't waste your money. either way, hope you enjoy what you read.

For some reason I found myself judging the heroine very harshly. **SPOILERS** The Viking hero kidnaps her and takes away her right to make her own decision about her life, which is wrong of course, but I didn't really blame him for it. She was so willing to throw love away and settle for a marriage of convenience. Every time this was proposed to her she just accepted so easily, while when the man she actually loved proposed to her, she wouldn't even consider it or try to think of a way they might be able to make things work. She kept saying how she could never be happy away from London, or she could never be happy in his homeland, despite the fact that she didn't know anything about his homeland, and for all she knew, it could have been a really wonderful place. She never said that she wouldn't be happy without the man she loved. In the end, it seems to me that she decided that the comfort and luxuries of London (and, to be fair, being near her father, best friend, and her newspaper) were more important to her than being with the man she loved, and she never changed her mind about that decision. So I didn't really think she deserved her happy ending. I didn't dislike the heroine, I just didn't understand her choices. I'm used to heroines who are more spunky and willing to fight for love.

This was such a fun book to read. Kat Martin brought me through all kinds of emotional stuff but it turned out happily - thank heavens! We romantics really need that HEA, after all. The story took place in England in the mid-1800s, when most women of "decent" background didn't work outside the home, but this one did. The pull of honorable duty to both families was at the crux of the problem here. There was excitement, anguish, sexiness, a great, handsome hero, an independent and smart heroine,sad and awful things to gnash one's teeth over - I loved it. Now I'll be looking for the other two books to the trilogy.

This is the first book in a trilogy. These are the first "historical" books of Kat Martin's that I have liked. I am on the third one now.

The characters in Heart of Honor are bold and strong and oh so likeable. I loved the combination of romance and intrigue. The book kept me on edge as I kept wondering how these two people who were obviously attracted to each other could ever solve their differences to be together.

I loved Leif, his character made me laugh and smile quite often. He was sexy, smart, ambitious, honorable...where is my Leif?

Krista is intelligent, ambitious, a female unaware of her beauty, loving, giving....a very lovely person.

The other characters in this book are warm and add depth to the storyline.

A great read!