The Fire Inside (Mass Market Paperback)

by Kat Martin (Author) "Recklessthat's what she is..." (more)
Key Phrases: Blair House, Clayton Harcourt, Stephen Marlow (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Seasoned romance scribbler Martin (Heartless; The Secret) harks back to the days when an Englishwoman playing cards was a cause for scandal, setting up a conflagration between Kitt Wentworth, a lady who will not be stifled by the strict conventions of 1805 London society, and Clayton Harcourt, the bastard son of a duke who savors taunting her beyond the bounds of propriety. Their verbal sparring conceals an attraction that only Kitt seems unaware of, but when one midnight adventure too many goes wrong, Clay and Kitt find themselves on their way to the altar and to a love-filled marriage neither guessed was in their future. An enemy from Kitt's past and Kitt's distrust in Clay's ability to remain faithful are the only stumbling blocks that stand in the way of their newfound happiness. The sex scenes sizzle, but Martin deftly dodges the superficial, hot-sex-equals-true-love relationship formula, making Kitt and Clay fumble through the more difficult task of proving their commitment while out of bed. Though Martin offers no surprises, she delivers an assured winner with solid plotting, a strong hero and a spirited heroine whom readers will embrace. (Feb.)Forecast: Martin pens both historical romances and contemporaries, but her stardom began with her historicals. With a large, dedicated troop of fans who will eagerly snatch this one off the shelf, and an attractive cover and print advertising in the Romantic Times and USA Today, this should be a surefire seller for Valentine's.

Copyright 2002 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

Product Description

Bestselling author Kat Martin takes you into the glittering ballrooms and candlelit boudoirs of Regency-era England in a novel of seduction and secrets, and breathtaking romance.

Kassandra "Kitt" Wentworth was no ordinary young woman. Headstrong and rebellious, this daughter of a viscount had no intention of obeying her father, submitting to a husband...or falling in love. But she never thought a man like Clayton Harcourt would pursue her. As the bastard son of a wealthy duke, Clay was no stranger to scandal. Taking a wife was not his plan, but Kitt's wild spirit drew him like a flame in the darkness, and the gossip swirling around her awakened a desire to tame and protect her. When Clay lays a trap for marriage, Kitt can't help but surrender to the passion he stirs within her. But will a secret from her past keep her from trusting her heart to the magnificent rogue who arouses her most burning desires?

THE FIRE INSIDE

Bestselling author Kat Martin takes you into the glittering ballrooms and candlelit boudoirs of Regency-era England in a novel of seduction and secrets, and breathtaking romance.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (January 29, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743419154
• ISBN-13: 978-0743419154
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #505,712 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing, January 20, 2005

By	Donna K. "bookcrosser" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews

This book was way too long. The beginning and ending were action-filled and interesting, but the middle section just dragged along in a very frustrating direction.

As a modern woman, I immediately admired Kitt for her rebellion against her society's oppression towards women - she was intelligent and lively, not to be owned or dictated to by a man. She was found a perfect mate in Clay, who encouraged her free way of thinking, and rather than hold her back, he went along with her on all her adventures. Even the bickering between them, something I usually find very annoying in a romance novel, was appropriate - probably b/c it was short-lived and basically the two did show great respect towards each other. Having been raped as a teenager, Kitt was afraid of sex, and Clay was incredibly patient and tender towards her regarding this, slowly gaining her trust and helping her to understand her sexuality.

It's no wonder these two fell deeply in love. So then, why did Kitt leave Clay after just a few weeks of marriage, right after discovering that physcial intimacy was a beautiful way to express their deep love? Her reasoning 1) that he didn't really love her b/c he never said it in words, despite his every action showing how desperately in love with her he was - and 2) that one woman would never be enough for him, and eventually he would stray and she couldn't bear to share him - were ridiculous. And then when she finally came to her senses, Clay had heartened his heart in bitterness towards her. This conflict was so unnecessary, and torturously dragged the story down. A little communication, which would have been expected from two such outspoken characters, could have avoided this entire mess.

The action packed ending, when their lives were threatened by an enemy from their past, brought them to a greater understanding of their love for each other, and redeemed the story.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Heatwarming and Rich Love Story, May 20, 2002

By A Customer

This book was everything I could have wanted in a love story. The hero Clayton is a strong well-written romantic hero. He's handsome, attractive to women, and strong. Kassandra (Kitt)begins as headstrong, stubborn, and reckless. She later becomes a strong and mature woman.

There is romantic and sexual tension between these characters from the beginning of the book!! It actually begins in Heartless and carries over into their story. I read Heartless first, and I couldn't wait to read The Fire Inside to find out what happened. I was not disappointed.

Kitt leads Clay on a merry chase before a "compromising" position forces them to marry. Kitt has a secret from her past that threatens her marriage to Clay and forces her to decide whether or not to trust her husband. Clay hopes that by marrying Kitt he can control her recklessness as well as the burning passion he has for her. As each of them soon finds out, they both must find a way to come to terms with the undeniable feelings they have for each other.

This book captured my interest from the first page. The sexual tension is believable. The plot is just as believable, with many twists and turns. I didn't want this book to end. I wanted the story to go on and on.

My wish is that Adam Hawthorne, Lord Blackwood, will get his story next. He played an instrumental part in several scenes in the book, and he is begging to feel the snares of passion like Clayton and Kassandra.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Enjoyable Regency romance, January 27, 2002

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

In 1805 London, the Ton concludes that Lady Kassandra "Kitt" Wentworth is too reckless for any respectable man to marry even if she is the daughter of a viscount. That is fine as far as Kitt is concerned as she refuses to bow to any male including her father just because society rigidly insists she must. Duh! Kitt believes that is all a female can expect from a nation ruled exclusively by males.

Clayton Harcourt, heir to a dukedom, has no plans to wed in the foreseeable future until he meets Kitt. He finds her wild behavior intoxicating, but he also sees beneath the veneer to her vulnerability. Clayton wants to hold her until she realizes that whatever her secret is that has forced her to don a mask of not caring what others think, his hugs will always be there. Though they fall in love, he worries about ever cracking the shell that keeps them from a lifetime of happiness.

Kat Martin, one of the top authors of Regency romances, enhances her high esteem of entertaining the sub-genre fans with her latest novel, THE FIRE INSIDE. The story line is exciting as Clayton sets his strategic goal, mounts a campaign, and deals with setbacks by revising his plan without losing sight of his mission. Though readers will want to adopt this caring hunk, Clayton's actions tend to limit the strife between he and Kitt. Still as only Ms. Martin can induce out of her audience, readers will feel Kitt's obvious defenselessness in spite of her shield, and hope she can finally open up to her beloved.

Harriet Klausner