Kat Martin - Malia Martin
Martin, Kat - WICKED PROMISES (St. Martin's - 10/98) (5)
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 abandon 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 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 PROMISES 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
Martin, Malia - DUKE'S RETURN, THE (Avon - 8/99) (4+)
Setting: England, 1820
Trevor Phillips has left his childhood behind, hiding from rank and responsibility. Memories of his brutal, demanding father
and his battered, cowering mother still haunt him, however, and give him reason to avoid personal entanglements. Trevor's difficulty with the written word forces him to keep life simple, and he prefers it so. When news reaches him that he has inherited a dukedom and the sprawling estate of Rawlston from a distant relative, he is more than willing to allow the solicitor to control the affairs of the estate. But his life is shaken when the former Duchess of Rawlston is accused of treason and thrown into Newgate, and Trevor finds himself slowly dragged
back into the unpredictable world he'd left behind.
Sara Whitney, Dowager Duchess of Rawlston, is a desperate woman. After her husband's death, hopes were high at Rawlston that the new Duke would set things right again. Instead, her correspondence to both the Duke and the estate's solicitor is ignored, bills are left unpaid, and both she and those in her charge are growing worried. In a last-ditch effort to force the new owner to address their needs, Sara and the servants and tenants abandon their duties in a mini-revolt; only to see her land in Newgate prison, charged with treason. But all is not in vain—for better or worse, they have gained the Duke's attention. When at last they meet, Sara manages to bait Trevor by stealing his watch; then she escapes to Rawlston, promising to return the hostage bauble when he joins her there.
Filled with humor, unexpected twists, and poignant moments, THE DUKE'S RETURN is a lovely way to spend an evening or two while curled up in your favorite chair. Malia Martin does a fine job of portraying Trevor, who is panic-stricken by his newfound burdens and frantic to keep his dyslexia a secret from the righteously indignant Sara. As these two opposite personalities unwillingly fall in love, Ms. Martin gives them honor and integrity, while mapping the journey of their souls through a mine field of experiences towards hope and happiness. Add a bit of underhanded treachery from a slimy solicitor, a mother angling for her illegitimate daughter to make a good marriage, a love-stricken merchant and a profoundly deaf and doddering butler, along with an ancient curse that must be defeated, and readers cannot help but be thoroughly entertained by this book! ~Deborah Roy for Bookbug on the Web
Martin, Malia - HER NORMAN CONQUEROR (Avon - 1998) (4)
HER NORMAN CONQUEROR is set during the time when William
attempts to seize the crown from King Harold of England.
Lady Aleene, mistress at Seabreeze Castle, has been ordered
by the King to marry her despicable stepbrother, Aethregard.
Deciding that no man will rule her again now that her evil
stepfather is dead, she defies the order and marries a dirty,
mute, simple-minded prisoner, whom she names Cynewulf.
Unbeknownst to Lady Aleene, her poacher-prisoner is anything but dull-witted...or mute. And underneath the grimy disguise exists a golden god—tall, handsome, and powerful. Her new husband plays the part of the simpleton well, however; and because she feels safe with him, she reveals her fears and the secrets of her past. "Cyne," who is really a Norman spy and one of William's knights, begins to fall in love with Aleene and dreads the day when she will discover he is the enemy.
Before the story ends, you will fall in love with this gentle giant and admire the inner strength of Lady Aleene. HER NORMAN CONQUEROR touches all of the emotions. I laughed out loud during the wedding night scene when the virginal Aleene attempted to consummate her marriage with the "sleeping simpleton," and I felt an emotional tug when she was betrayed. In her delightful debut, Malia Martin takes an often told tale and breathes new life into it, giving her readers hours of enjoyment. ~Carol Carter for Bookbug on the Web
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