Marcia Martin - Michelle Martin
Martin, Marcia - DREAM SEEKER (Signet - 1998) (4+)
Catherine Winslow was living two lives. Her real life was a dull and unhappy one, with her aunt ruling the house and everything in it (including Catherine). She dressed in drab clothing, never dated, and only did what her unloving and cruel aunt suggested. After Catherine secretly wrote a romance novel that was published, she got the courage to buy a condo and move out on her own. At twenty-eight years old, it was about time! When she met the handsome bachelor, Eliot, she finally felt she was living the good life. Unknown to her, he was having an affair with her friend and was only interested in Catherine to further his political ambitions.
Catherine's alter-ego was Nicki Palmer, who was everything Catherine was not: feisty, fun-loving, and a real party girl. Nicki's life was what Catherine dreamed about and thought about when her life was unbearable. As Nicki, she lived on a beautiful ranch in Hawaii and had everything money could buy, and almost every man she met was in love with her.
Then Catherine's love affair with Eliot began to feel stifling and her dreams of Nicki became frightening. She was also very attracted to Jack, who was part of those dreams, but he felt so real...
Although the beginning of the book was a bit confusing as far as what was real and what wasn't, I really enjoyed both stories of Catherine and Nicki. DREAM SEEKER offers romance as well as chills and thrills, and Marcia Martin has created well-drawn characters and good dialogue. She really kept me guessing until the second half of the book when things started coming together. I was almost sorry to find easy solutions because I enjoyed Catherine's double life so much. This is the first time I've read this author, but I will be looking for more books by her. ~Marilyn H. (mlyn@jps.net)
Martin, Michelle - ADVENTURERS, THE (1996) (3)
Brett Avery, the Earl of Northridge, is in a towering rage. He has just discovered that the two young men he's been traveling with are, in fact, the alleged missing teenaged heir, Jamie Shipley, and his companion-protector, Isabel Seaton. The person with whom he's been trading quips, playing cards, and discussing topics totally unsuited for mixed company is a woman! His severely dignified and reserved personality is turned inside out by this incredible discovery. He has been named guardian to the underage Shipley heir, and that duty is the cause of major trouble when two boys claim to be the rightful heir. In addition, someone is out to make sure that Jamie and Isabel never reach the Shipley estate, Thornwynd, in time to claim the inheritance. Normally, I find "road" books tiresome, but this is a delightful exception. The adventure was exciting and the relationships were realistically developed. If readers are looking for an unconventional Regency without a ballroom, tea party or a London street in sight, this one is for you. I thoroughly enjoyed it. ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
Martin, Michelle - HAMPSHIRE HOYDEN, THE (1993) (3+)
Kate Glyn's mission as chaperone was to keep all "miscreants" from her beautiful best friend's flock of eligible suitors. Such duty kept her quite busy for Georgina Fairfax is as sweet in temperament as she is lovely. One evening she's introduced to Sir William Atherton and his close friend, Lord Theo Blake, heir to the Duke of Insley. After a careful and quite thoroughly outrageous interview, Kate grants Atherton an introduction to Georgina, and Lord Blake is amused and intrigued by Kate's glib tongue and unconventional manner. Later he discovers that Kate is none other than the infamous "Hampshire Hoyden"—a woman known for her unladylike pursuits and total disregard of tonnish pretensions. As Kate and Theo become friends, society tongues start to wag and jealous rivals take notice. Subtle humor, witty repartee, mature and refreshingly intelligent characters, with just the slightest bit of tension to keep the story interesting, make THE HAMPSHIRE HOYDEN a wonderful Regency read. ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
Martin, Michelle - STOLEN HEARTS (Bantam - 1997) (5)
This was my first Martin book and it knocked my socks off! The heroine is a thief/con artist and the hero is a blue-blooded lawyer. Tess, our heroine, is recruited by her mentor for one last big con: passing her off as the long-lost granddaughter of a very wealthy family. Luke, the hero, is prepared to peel the layers from Tess's con job and expose her for the liar she is. Nature takes over, however, and they are immediately taken with one another—and nothing happens the way each had planned.
I don't want to give away too much of the plot, except to say there are many twists and turns in this terrific contemporary. The relationship between Tess and her "grandmother" develops beautifully; but it's the relationship between Tess and Luke—along with their unease in each other's company and their snappy dialogue—that makes this one of the best books I've read in a long time. Some of us can (or try to) identify with the characters we read about; in this case, Tess is such a marvelously drawn character with such a colorful past, that I often thought how interesting it would have been to be in on some of her adventures. And Luke, well let's just say his blue blood runs verrrry hot. This one is going straight to the keeper shelf. ~Gail B. (bookbabe@javent.com)
Martin, Michelle - STOLEN MOMENTS (Bantam - 1997) (3+)
Pop star, Harley Jane Miller, decides to run away and experience New York City. Duncan Lange (P.I.) is hired by Jane's despotic manager to find her and bring her back to the fold. He locates her all too easily and they click (all over New York City). She really wants to be a rock star and he really wants to prove himself to his family. What happens is magic. The love scenes are especially hot and several plot twists were delicious to behold. I was smiling while reading most of this book and when I wasn't it was for a good reason. STOLEN MOMENTS is brimming with sly iconic references and hip dialogue, which bring New York City to life. Harley and Duncan are wonderfully unique and exciting characters, and the style and wit in which they are presented had me hooked from the very first page. This is a smart, endearingly attractive couple in a luscious contemporary romance, with just the slightest bit of mystery/suspense that enhances the romance instead of overwhelming it. ~Kathy G. (kathy@cs.utexas.edu)
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