Wicked Promise [Mass Market Paperback]

Kat Martin (Author)

Book Description

Series: Wicked Promise | Publication Date: October 15, 1998

A Lady's Desperate Choice
When the loathsome Lord Bascomb tries to force her into marriage, Elizabeth Woolcot, against her will, must applea to her influential guardian. Nicholas Warring, known as the Wicked Early, is a darkly handsom charasmatic figure--with the power to save her but a past that could put her reputation dangerously at risk. A ruthless womanizer, he has also been convicted of murder--and barely escaped hanging.

A rogue's tainted honor
Elizabth can't help her attraction to the man who haunts her dreams--nor he his hunger for her. But she knows it can never be. For Nicholas is a married man. Then a heinous crime shatters their lives--and Nick is the natural suspect. Elizabeth wants to believe in his innocence more than life and love itself--but can she trust a man who has killed before?

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

A LADY'S DESPERATE CHOICE

Faced with a forced marriage to a loathsome neighbor, Elizabeth Woolcot can only appeal to her powerful guardian, Nicholas Warring, for aid. Unfortunately, Nicholas, Earl of Ravenworth, is known as the Wicked Earl for good reason. Convicted of murder, he barely escaped hanging. When she meets Nick for the first time, Elizabeth is compelled by his darkly handsome face--and his charismatic manner. But no matter how strong the attraction between them, Elizabeth can never be his, for Nick, although estranged from his wife for years, is married.

As the days progress, Nick's hunger for Elizabeth grows. Then a heinous crime shatters their lives...and Nick is the natural suspect. Elizabeth wants to believe in his innocence more than life and love itself--but can she trust a man who has killed before?

About the Author

The name Kat Martin promises readers unforgettable characters, a thrilling plot..and breathtaking romance. The bestselling author of more than a dozen novels, including Nothing But Velvet and Dangerous Passions, Kat knows what readers want and she always delivers.

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 344 pages
• Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks (October 15, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0312966407
• ISBN-13: 978-0312966409
• Product Dimensions: 6.6 x 4.2 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (27 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,208,928 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

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yet another wonderful read from Kat Martin, February 10, 2001

By 

Dana K. Wolcott (Monrovia, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Wicked Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

Besides being addicted to Kat Martin's books from the moment I picked up "Night Secrets," I picked up "Wicked Promise" because the heroine's last name was practically a dead-ringer for mine. Being decidedly English in culture, I knew this book was sure to please. And, it did.

One of the most enjoyable aspects of Kat Martin's books is the setting. She can capture Victorian England in such a way that there is no doubt in my mind that's exactly what Victorian England looked and felt like, even down to the sootiness of the city (which so many authors fail to mention in 19th century England romances) and the hellish cells and the poor souls of Newgate prison.

On to the story. Elizabeth Woolcot is desperate for protection against her pompous neighbor who is hell-bent on marrying her. Nicholas Warring grudgingly agrees to help her, but does everything he can to keep Elizabeth at arms' length away from him, even going so far as to purposely set out to make Elizabeth think he's the rogue everyone says he is. He could care less about propriety and what society says - they deserted him when he killed a man nine years before. And now, that dead man's brother is trying very hard to marry Elizabeth, and he'll do anything (ANYTHING) to get her. When Nicholas realizes his love for Elizabeth, he sets into motion a plan that will see him free to love her. Unfortunately, through a series of events, he finds himself in a Newgate prison cell facing the hangman's noose. What follows is a hilarious scene (even in the shadow of a serious problem) which really had me giggling. Elizabeth is a strong heroine and does her best to defend herself. She's no ninny, either, even if she does put herself into some awkward situations. She still defends herself and does what she can to survive. And, she sets out to return the help she received from Nicholas when he finds himself in a situation he's helpless to rectify.

The chemistry between Elizabeth and Nicholas is wonderful, and I truly enjoyed reading their story. Their chemistry sizzles and the plot is fast-moving, all the way up to the end. Kat does a wonderful job keeping the reader on the edge of her seat with the twists and turns of the plot. I also enjoy catching glimpses of Kat Martin's characters in other stories. Nicholas and Elizabeth can be seen in "Silk and Steel," yet another excellent romp through Victorian England and aristocratic society.

Dana K. Wolcott

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars bits and pieces, October 8, 2002

By 

Amy (texas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Wicked Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

i love kat martin books. her steamy writing style, characters that aren't afraid of society or their sexuality (a nice change from simpid writers to caught up in being afraid of wanting another person) and great secondary characters. I felt torn on this book for though there were parts i dearly loved there were also parts of the book where i was just like "What the hell was that?!"

First for the good: Elizabeth is a woman needs protection. After her father dies she is sought after but a man who is determined to have her, even by foul means. She asks Nicholas warring, her guardian, for protection and he grudgingly agrees. One problem, he's wildly attracted to her. Nicholas killed a man nine years ago and was sent off to serve his time. He's gone down hill since his return, earning the name the "wicked earl" for his rakish ways.

Elizabeth is the breath of fresh air that has nicholas' head spinning. i loved the way nicholas is determined to protect elizabeth from him and the life he lives. The passion the two of them have is great. the way they each have power over each other is a nice change from the always experienced hero. i loved nicholas' character in how he is protective and tortured. you have love those kind of heros...a little jaded but still a teddy bear inside. the bedroom scenes were great as always though like anything else they alone can't carry a book.

Now for the bad parts: the problem of nicholas being married is pretty much ignored throughout the book. his wife is in all of three scenes. elizabeth is almost to naive when she proclaims that nicholas is not married in the "eyes of god" since his wife left abandoned him when he was convicted of murder. The ending was to predictable. this story follows the cookie cutter regency era romance. everything is solved nice and neat and though this is ultimately a good thing it's to spontaneous and easy to really make an impacton the reader. i found myself asking "is that it?" which isn't really that great a sign.

did i enjoy this book? yes. did i think it was one of the best kat martin has written? no. though the passion is there and burning hot there book starts to decline in the end.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This author knows how to write, August 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Wicked Promise (Mass Market Paperback)

Late in the eighteenth century, Nicholas Warring, the fourth Earl of Ravensworth, is convicted of murdering Stephen Hampton. As he spends the next seven torturous years as an indentured servant in Jamaica, his wife and all the Ton abandons him. When he finally returns to England in 1801, he lives a life of debauchery, almost as if there will be no tomorrow.

However, Nicholas' lifestyle abruptly changes when he becomes guardian to Elizabeth Woolcott, who needs his protection from the unwanted overtures of Oliver Hampton, whose testimony convicted Nicholas. Though he wants no part of the innocent chit, Nicholas knows how perverted Hampton is, so he takes the lass and her aunt into his home in order to protect her. Though his plan is to marry her off to a decent man in the the ton, Nicholas and Elizabeth fall in love with each other. However, he remains married and Oliver is a force that must be reckoned with before the pair can hope to find happiness together.

WICKED PROMSIES is a typical Regency romance that receives the special Kat Martin treatment of turning it into a fresh reading experience. The lead protagonists are a wonderful pair, especially Nicholas. who must overcome his trauma from his time spent in the colonies if he wants a loving relationship. The villain is as odious as they come and adds a touch of wickedness that promises to keep fans of the sub-genre spellbound throughout the novel.

Harriet Klausner