Customer Reviews

Secret Ways

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

 

 

Vermillion Durant's destiny seems to be that of her beautiful and famous relatives, that of a courtesan. Even her name is spicy and enticing. Yet she prefers to think of herself as simply "Lee", a much more innocent and free young lady than she is expected to be. However, she is resigned to her fate, believing that is what her beloved aunt needs her to be.

However, Vermillion is suspected of being more than a temptress, but also of being a spy. To uncover the truth, Caleb Tanner will masquerade as a simple groom and try to get close enough to see whether or not she is responisible for secrets making their way to France. Caleb is shocked to learn that Lee is nothing like what he expected. The real woman is someone that he can not help but love. Vermillion finds herself attracted to this man as well, but believes such a match would never work. Even when she finds her true identity, the situation appears hopeless.

The complexities of war and of the 'ton are equal, and when meshed become a tangle that only skillful minds can fathom. With Ms. Martin's long heralded skill at delivering a sensual romance, this novel gives readers a most unique heroine. Wise and innocent simultaneously, Vermillion is somewhat like the younger days of Elizabeth Taylor, while Caleb is the kind of hero readers have grown to love. Fans will not be short changed.

Vermillon 'Lee' Durant is preparing to follow the destiny of all the female Durants as a courtesan. By day she is Lee, a carefree innocent who loves horses and kittens. At night she transforms herself into Vermillon, a seductress that needs to choose her protector by her nineteenth birthday. Though she thought she had come to terms with her destiny, she soon finds that she is far from sure if she wants to spend her life as a mistress. When she meets Caleb Tanner, the new head groom at Parkland, she finds someone who can ignite the fire deep within her. As the weeks pass, she realizes that she has to be independent, even at the cost of her aunt's dissapointment.

Captain Caleb Tanner has been assigned to Parkland in as a groom to try to uncover a traitor to the Crown. He didn't count on meeting someone as seductive as Vermillion nor as innocent as Lee. Though Vermillion and Lee are one and the same, only Caleb has uncovered the true person she is.

Though Secret Ways isn't has emotional as Martin's previous historicals, it is still an easy read that you will want to finish. Caleb and Lee work together to uncover a traitor which is a little unbelieveable, but the sexual tension between them is undeniable. Also unbelieveable is the fact that Lee is a virgin, which is what all our heroines in historicals are. It was a change from historicals where the heroines were a part of the ton, as Lee had more freedom to do what she wished. I have had a hard time lately getting into historicals, but I'm glad I took a chance on this one!

Just when I was about to dive off the Kat Martin bandwagon, she writes this little treasure. I'm not saying this book is phenomenal, but it is enjoyable.

Our heroine, Vermillion Lee Durant, is a trained connoisseur in the art of pleasuring a man. Throughout the lustful London male society, an unknown detail stays hidden -- Vermillion is only trained. As yet, she has not practiced her satisfying skills. She will remain a courtesan student until she turns nineteen; at the conclusion of this birthday ball, Vermillion will choose her first lover.

The youngest son of the Earl of Selhurst, Captain Caleb Tanner, a British officer, has been called back from the Spanish front. He is an expert horseman and will act as an undercover spy in the Durant stables. His mission is to uncover the traitorous traitor who has been leaking information to the Napoleon military.

I appreciated the length Kat Martin employed for sexual tension -- all the luring glances, aching desires, illicit kisses -- were paced for the reader's total enjoyment. Such longing earns the word romance. The stable scenes are delightful. Gently written was the soft and assuring manner Caleb used to help "Lee". Their competitive horse-race "the contest" is assembled with innocence and fun. Martin allowed such tender moments to help the reader overlook the anxious times our two lovers are forced to suffer.

Kat Martin's two lovers may not see eye to eye, but at least, they are not fighting, demeaning, hating, and then regrettably making love - the usual Martin outline. Kat Martin, if you are out there in author land, your writing skills are extraordinary, but please keep your war machine and arguing lessons in the skim mode.

Grace Atkinson, Ontario - Canada.

Courtesy of Love Romances

Vermillion Lee Durant is approaching nineteen and it is time for her to choose a protector among her admirers. An orphan at the age of four, her aunt Gabriella took Vermillion under her wing and trained her to be the third generation of Durant courtesans. Vermillion doesn't like herself to be the seductive 'Vermillion' but the plain 'Lee' who dressed like a lad and rides like the wind on her horse.

Captain Caleb Tanner tries to catch a traitor and suspects that the Durant women are selling information to the French. By arrangement, he works undercover as the head groom in the Durant's stable to observe the people and the activities within the Parklands estates.

Caleb believes that 'Vermillion' is a seductress and a power-hungry female until he meets 'Lee'. The more he gets to know 'Lee', the more he wants her. As the head groom at Parklands, he has no way to get inside the house to search and find evidence that he wants. When Vermillion's birthday comes near, he can't stand the idea of Vermillion having another man to be her first protector other than himself.

SECRET WAYS is an exciting tale full of action, suspense and romance. As always, Ms Martin is comfortable in penning sensual romantic love scenes that never disappoint and leave readers breathless. Moreover, the leading couple are delightful and the investigation adds a certain spice to keep readers turning the page. Another enjoyable read that fans and readers of Kat Martin's books must not miss!

This book grabbed me from the beginning and I couldn't put it down! Kat Martin is a wonderful author and I only have to see her name on the front and I'm assured of a great read. Caleb Tanner is the perfect hero and Lee Durant is the perfect heroine. It couldn't have been written any better. It's actually quite a touching love story and I enjoy reading books where the hero and heroine don't hate each other throughout much of the book, only to end up together in the end. The stories are so much more enjoyable when they're similar to this one. Read this, along with all her other books. I've been a fan of hers since I read Captain's Bride years ago. Her books do not disappoint.

Ms. Martin is back and has managed to again pen an historical romance that has plenty of historical detail, engaging character's, with steamy romance that Ms. Martin is known for.

Vermillion "Lee" Durant is eighteen, and beautiful and is getting ready to follow in her aunt's footsteps, to become the toast of the demirep. Problem is, Vermillion is not sure that that is the kind of lifestyle that she wants to lead. She loves the outdoors, raising, and racing her horses. She doesn't think that when the time comes on her 19th birthday that she can choose a protector. Especially since none of her suitors interest her in the least. There is also the added problem in the fact that she is finding herself drawn to the new groom in her stables, Calab. He is everything a servent should not be. He is arrogant, assertive, and just too good looking for Lee's peace of mind. Still he awakens not only her heart, but her young body to passion.

Calab Tanner is not what he seems. Calab Tanner is an Officer for the British Army, and he is undercover to unveil a spy. Calab is sent to Parklands, Vermillion's home with her aunt becasue it looks as if the spy operates from that small estate. Calab is set in his mission, but what he does not count on is being attracted to a possible spy, and not being able to walk away from that attraction. Eventually he won't be able to fight his feelings for Lee, and realizes that there are actually two women in one. Vermillion the potential member of the demimond, and Lee the young, kind girl that calls sevants friends.

Together Lee and Calab hunt for the spy, and fight their mutal attraction to each other. But, what happens when the past finally catches up to the present and Vermillion finds out who her father really is, and Calab is sent back to the front to fight? Will Calab choose Vermillion over his military career? You will have to read the book to find out.

This story was well paced, and kept my interest until the end. I love to read stories where the herorine is strong and capable, not a milk and water miss. Calab is a true hero from the top of his head, to the tips of he toes, still he can recognize a prize when he sees it. The chemistry between Lee and Calab is scorching and is believable. If you are a fan of this very talented author, you won't want to miss this one!

Kat Martin's latest Regency is a wowing crowd-pleaser with hot sensuous passion and archetypal brooding romance heroes. It is a romance at heart with ingenue Vermillian Lee Durant following the footsteps of her aunt Gabriella to become a cyprian well-craft in the arts of seduction. British cavalry Captain Caleb Tanner sneaks inside her manor as a groom to ferret out a treasonous spy and suspects Lee and her aunt. Smoldering passion soon complicates Caleb's investigation and leads him to believe Lee's innocence. The identity of the culprit abruptly comes out as a hasty denouement - disappointingly so when Ms. Martin painstakingly whips up paranoia in the mystery. Secret Ways thus establishes itself primarily as a sweeping romance, unfurling with Ms. Martin's magic in creating endearing characters with heart and affection.

In 1809 in the outer rim of a sprawling London, Vermillion Lee Durant sadly realizes that her training period is over. She must select her first protector as a courtesan chip off the old block as her aunt who raised her did before her. She would rather be Lee, riding horses in the countryside, but she knows that her destiny as the third generation Durant courtesan is to be Vermillion.

Secret Agent Captain Caleb Tanner seeks a traitor. He goes undercover as a groom at Parklands, the estate owned by Vermillion's aunt. Caleb believes that Vermillion is a hardened, avaricious but well paid whore. That is until he meets Lee. As he and Lee fall in love, Caleb knows the mission remains first, but plans to become Vermillion's first protector. However, she needs more from him now that love is part of the relationship.

SECRET WAYS is an exciting Regency romantic suspense tale that sub-genre fans will fully appreciate. The story line is loaded with action, but also slowed down at the bit by the girth of detail on horses. The lead couple is a delightful duo especially the almost schizoid lead female protagonist as Lee battles with Vermillion for supremacy before Caleb's love enables her to enjoy both sides of her complex personality. The traitor investigation adds the depth that will leave readers applauding Kat Martin for a fine novel.

Harriet Klausner

Almost-19yo heroine is drawn to her new groomsman despite trying to decide among 3 influential men she was going to choose as her protector on her birthday party. Secret-spy Hero is looking for the culprit in heroine's estate who's been relaying dangerous messages to the French army. Hero increasingly becomes confused about heroine as she shows the more innocent & simple side of herself when she's not playing the part of a seductress during her aunt's various parties. Their secret affair soon reveals the truth about heroine to Hero & changes the tune of their r/s as well as his part in his spy work. What kind of future will these 2 have with heroine's destiny as a courtesan & Hero's overseas military career?

This has Martin's usual sensual & emotionally-evoking writing. The romance is fraught with various social challenges. It took me some time to figure out whether I liked the main characters or not. In the 1st 3rd of the book, I wasn't sure if heroine would blindly follow the courtesan path of her foremothers or attain some independence esp since she was already independently wealthy. I also didn't know if Hero would continue to judging heroine harshly while wavering in his sexual resistance to her. Soon enough heroine followed her heart & choose to be herself. Hero fell in love with simple-side of heroine & understood why she put up a courtesan image she to others. It helped that they both became upfront about things & made for a more intimate & sweet r/s. The suspense part wasn't predictable & played side part to main romance. Overall, this was an enjoyable read.

Recommended.

I have to admit that I really enjoy most of Kat Martin's other books, however this one feel flat in my opinion. The story was predictable, something that I don't hate as long as the story is well told and the characters are likable. But honestly, I just wasn't that crazy about the characters.

Caleb lies to everyone, and no one but Vermillion is upset - why isn't her aunt or one of her friends upset? I certainly would be. Then he LIES AGAIN. As for Vermillion/Lee, she wasn't my favorite character either. I like that she was loyal to her family and that she wanted to make them happy, but there is such a thing as taking it too far.

As for the traitor, that wasn't much of a surprise. And all the timing was just a little bit too coincidental. So that part of the story didn't add anything for me.

All the above makes it sound like I hated the book, but I didn't. I was just disappointed in it compared to her other books. If you are a fan on Kat Martin, check this one out of the library or borrow it, and it is not an awful read. However, don't make this your first Martin book. Just my suggestion.