Night Secrets [Mass Market Paperback]

Kat Martin (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 15, 1999

Book after book, New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin wins extraordinary acclaim from readers and reviewers alike, for her fresh, sexy novels that combine adventure, wit, and romance. Now Kat takes you to England, America, and the high seas for a tempestuous voyage of the human heart-a journey you'll never forget...

Their passion was a force of nature, as wild and powerful as the sea

They came from opposite worlds: Brianne, a young woman trapped in a life from which she longs to escape; and Captain Marcus Delaine, the Earl of Hawksmoor, a man whose heart and soul cannot be touched by anyone. When Brianne briefly stows away on his ship, their lives are filled with beauty and passion...But when tragedy strikes, Brianne and Marcus are torn from each other, and the love between them is buried beneath the agony of betrayal. Traveling to England, Brianne is determined to touch the heart of the vengeful, embittered man Marcus has become...even if it means losing him forever.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Martin continues her seagoing Regencies with this breast-heaver about tavern girl Brianne Brandy Winters and hard-muscled Marcus Delaine, Lord Hawksmoor and the owner of Hawksmoor Shipping. Brandy, the prettiest bit of baggage in Charleston, S.C., hates the boredom and the pawing at her fathers White Horse Tavern, so she stows away on Marcuss ship, the Fairwind, in order to see a bit of the world. While Brandy learns about life on the open sea, Marcus unsuccessfully fights off the urge to bed her. Disaster comes when someone trying to sabotage Hawksmoor Shipping sets up an accident that leaves Brandys lover paralyzed from the waist down. Its only after Brandys father dies, leaving her rich, that she goes to England, nurses the crippled, impotent Marcus back to health and virility and learns how to be a lady. Unfortunately, while historical romances often rely on an acceptable share of clichs, Martins at best are flat and puerile.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

In 1803, Charleston native Brandy Winters is anxious to escape her drudgery-filled life working at her father's tavern, so she stows away on Marcus Delaine's ship. When Marcus finds her, he is furious, and he becomes even angrier when she is almost raped by a member of his crew. But at last his rage turns to desire and passion. Brandy responds in kind, even though she knows that his first love is the sea. When an accident leaves Marcus paralyzed, Brandy helps him learn to walk again even though she knows he will leave her for life on board his ship. And so he does, only to realize, once he is sailing the high seas, how much he has left behind. Martin's newest book has few surprises but lots of energy and adventure. The writing is crisp and clear, and the characters are larger than life. Ann Bouricius

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 342 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks; First edition (May 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312970021
• ISBN-13: 978-0312970024
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #958,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Currently living in Missoula, Montana, Kat Martin is the bestselling author of over fifty Historical and Contemporary Romance novels. Before she started writing in 1985, Kat was a real estate broker. During that time, she met her husband, Larry Jay Martin, also an author. Kat is a graduate of the University of California at Santa Barbara, where she majored in Anthropology and also studied History. "I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."

To date, Kat has over twelve million copies of her books in print. She is published in twenty foreign countries, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, China, Korea, Bulgaria, Russia, England, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Argentina, Japan and Greece.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 1/2 stars. Hearty and adventurous but..., October 5, 2001

By 

Abbys (Moreno Valley, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Night Secrets (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read lots of Kat Martin's work and she is in fact one of my favorite authors. She has drawed out whirlwind of my emotions. She has insired me as well. In short, she has affected me with her words, entertained me with her stories many times in the past. However, I am sad to say Secret Nights isn't one of her best. I would have given this book a 3.5 stars if I could.

The first part of this book was exciting and pulling, I told myself I'll only read few chapters as I started this book late at night but alas, I ended up reading almost half way through the book towards the early dawn for I refuse to part with it. The first part is where we were introduce to Marcus and Brandy. I ache reading about Brandy and her situation. I admire her determination and her ambitions. I hoped and wish the best for her! On the next day, as I read the second half, I begun to feel discontented and restless. I scanned-read the pages, searching for a climatic moments perhaps even praying for a spur of excitement to set in. Unfortunately, that initial 'pulling' moment never came back to life. I couldn't figure out what went wrong, exactly. Even till the end, I am sad to say, I never regain that enthusiastic feelings nor did I feel fulfilled.

Let's see... The hero and the heroine, Marcus and Brandy are well developed just like in all of Kat Martin's book that I've read. Their love was undeniably hearty. Brandy's character is a typical one for a woman in love since her childhood days. Of course, it was hard to let go even if she knows she was on the loosing end. Marcus, selfish as it may seem, was always honest and straight forward about his feelings. His life is at sea and that's that. Contrary to one reviewer, I didn't mind their seperation, it was the heart wretching part of the book. Together, they are heart warming. Seperate, they are heart wretching. The overall plot was a new one for me too, so I kindda enjoyed that one. Lots of adventure: Sea quest, Port stops, and the ship scenes was an interesting read. The mystery-suspense twist was alright, though not too exciting, it wasn't the main problem for my restlesness. I think it's just the way everything was written and represented towards the second half of the book. Like I said, I really don't know what made the second half boring... I also don't intend to read this book again just to find out why. If I am not mistaken, I think what got in the way is the over-analyzing, over detailing, over emphasizing of everything. It's also the repetitive reasoning of actions and explanations of emotions. I do like detailing but not overly much. I also do like humor in my romance books which is not found much in here. However, from time to time, I don't mind a melancholy stories so long as the ending would make up for it. Sadly (once again), the ending just didn't fit in properly for me to form an impression. I wanted an Epilogue and I hate to admit it but towards the middle of the book, I was hoping for a child to be conceive (you'll know what i mean once u read the book). Perhaps there is a sequel for this one?

Overall, this book is not an awful read. It's still enjoyable, no doubt. It's just not up to my "KAT MARTIN" expectation. Perhaps it's only my own preferences or perhaps it's only my personal expectation of Kat Martin base on her other books that I've read. I see many reviewers who rated this book a fiver...so go right on ahead and pick up this book. Read it with open mind. Who knows you might like it more than I have.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars FANTASTIC!, October 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Night Secrets (Mass Market Paperback)

I have read all of Kat Martins books, and this rates at the top with Gypsy Lord!...I read Night Secrets in one day! I just couldn't put it down!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best of Kat Martin, November 12, 2000

By 

Debra H. Bumpus "Crazy Quilter" (Tupelo, MS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Night Secrets (Mass Market Paperback)

I've read every book that Kat Martin has written with the exception of her contemporary romances. By far though, Night Secrets was her best effort. I was hooked from page two and didn't put it down until I was completely finished. I was sorry to get to the end. This one will not disappoint. I laughed and had a very good cry. Not too many writers can swing my emotions like she can. Complete entertainment.