The Bride's Necklace

by Kat Martin

Book Overview

The Bride's Necklace by Kat Martin released on Dec 28, 2004 is available now for purchase.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0778321258
• ISBN13: 9780778321255
• Release Date: December 2004
• Publisher: Mira Books
• Length: 416 Pages
• Weight: 0.46 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.6"

Customer Reviews

Exciting Reading set in 1800s England

The first of a trilogy by Kat Martin set in the early 1800s in England. It was unusual for women to have much spunk in that day and age, but Ms. Martin gives us beautiful women with plenty of sass and handsome men to chase after them. The Devil's Necklace, second in the trilogy is also good reading. I'd recommend them both for a cold rainy afternoon and a warm fire.

Great Historical Romance

I thought it was fantastic. The characters were all fasinating. One of the better historical romance books I read in awhile.

Ms. Martin Is Off To A Great Start With Her Latest Series!!!

You are guaranteed a good read when you pick up Ms. Martin and this story is no exception. Her newest series starts with all of the fire and sensuality that Ms. Martin is known for. One of the things that makes this such a good read is the characters! Victoria, Cord, Claire and the rest of the cast are all characters that you will care about and want to invest time in reading and knowing. I found this book to be a quick read and I very much look forward to the next in the series. Victoria has a step-father that has been looking at her younger sister is a way that he shouldn't. He has been beating Victoria for just about any imagined crime. When the time presents itself for Claire and Victoria to make their escape it comes with a price. The girls steal "The Brides Necklace" and leave the estate thinking that Victoria has killed the man. Needing to find a job they head to London and make their way to the home of Earl of Brant. None other than the handsome Cord. Cord takes pity and gives the girls jobs knowing that they are being less than honest but he figures eventually he will learn their secret. The fact that he is attracted to the fiery Victoria is just an added bonus. But before either of them realize it fate will take a hand and for these two people into a marriage that might just be the best thing that ever happened to either of them. Will they be able to find a happy ending or will the curse of the necklace bring them tragedy? This was a very good read. Although Victoria acted like a twit a few times and Cord reciprocated and acted the fool these two still manage to be a very engaging couple and one that readers will root for a happy ending. Claire, Miles, "Chez", and the rest of the secondary cast are wonderful additions to this story. My only complaint? We must wait until Aug. '05 for the next in the series! I highly recommend Ms. Martin if you are a fan of historical romantic fiction. Official Reviewer for www.romancedesigns.com

Highly Enjoyable Regency - Tastefully Sensual

Setting - England 1804 --- Realizing that time had run out, Victoria Temple Whitting, knew she had to save her sister Claire from their lecherous stepfather, Baron Harwood. There was no time to think it through before she was forced to knock him out with a bed pan. Fleeing in the night, with little more than they could carry, Victoria grabbed her family's heirloom necklace believed to hold the power of great happiness or terrible tragedy, to sell so they could finance their flight to London. Gaining a mere pittance of it's value, Victoria was forced to pose as Tory Temple, widow, and seek employment, though this proved to be a difficult feat for one so young and without references. Things were dire indeed until she stumbled into the handsome Earl of Brant, Cordell Easton. Having tired of his mistress, Cord was in the market for a new bit of muslin to replace her and the enchanting beauty of the very innocent and naïve Claire was intriguing. Cord hired Tory as his new housekeeper and Claire as a maid, believing he would soon be offering Claire a more lucrative position. It didn't take Cord long to realize that while Claire's beauty masked an innocence even he would felt obligated to safeguard, it would be the elder sister, Tory, who would challenge and pique his desire in a way no woman ever had before. By the time Cord uncovered the truth of the sisters noble birth, their stepfather discovered their whereabouts and had come to take them away. Furious at having been deceived, and never before allowing himself to feel, Cord could only save Tory by marrying her but would he be able to put aside his stubborn pride and admit to love. *** In a new dramatic trilogy, Kat Martin gives the reader tremendous bang for the buck in this very enjoyable romance. I loved the character studies of the two sisters and the devotion and love Tory had for the childlike naivety of Claire, who at times seemed more child than woman. Tory was an incredibly courageous young woman, who in spite of the love she felt for Cord, would willingly sacrifice it all in her attempt to protect Claire. Cord himself was again another complex and fully developed character, whose lusty and sensual appetite for Tory was truly a joy to behold, yet he held back so much of himself he almost lost the most important thing of all. Introducing several lively romantic sub-plots kept the action going in the this captivating novel including Tory trying to prove her stepfather guilty of murdering her father; Cord trying to rescue his best friend and cousin from the French; and of course, the introduction of the next protagonists for the second novel in this trilogy, Tory's best friend Grace and Cord's cousin Ethan. All in all, this was a delightful and well-rounded romance with tasteful sensuality and enough twists and turns to keep the action at a fever pitch while enticing and leaving her legion of fans and myself anxious for the second novel in this highly enjoyable new trilogy...... *

Entertaining Regency romance

In 1804, Miles Whiting molests his stepdaughter seventeen years old angelic Claire until her older sister Victoria bashes his head knocking the lecher out. The siblings steal a necklace and flee Harwood for London. Not long afterward, the sisters remain in trouble until Lord Cordell Devlin, in need of a housekeeper, hires Victoria to fill the position and provides a maid's job to the sister because he wants Claire in his bed soon. Miles changes his mind over which sister he wants in his bed. He finds Claire almost child-like and instead of desire he finds a need to protect her. He appreciates Victoria's intelligence, competitive nature especially in chess, and her protectiveness of her fey like sibling; he also realizes he wants her. However, her stepfather seeks his two "wards" having accused them of theft and injuring him. With the law on his side, only Cord stands in his way, but though Victoria loves him, she cannot expect a lord to keep safe two thieving servants even if he reciprocates her affection. THE BRIDE'S NECKLACE is entertaining Regency romance because of the prime time lead protagonists whose growing attraction amidst danger on both their parts (his attempts to rescue his cousin from the French and her efforts to elude her stepfather) make for a strong tale. Claire's naïve innocence adds a depth to the lead duet. Though Miles is too villainous with nothing redeeming, fans will enjoy Kat Martin's fine tale and hopefully see a sequel starring Victoria's best friend. Harriet Klausner