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Satin & Steel
Despite a bitter family feud a rugged rancher and a boarding school beauty discover passion in this historical romance from the author of "Fire & Ice," "Ashes & Ecstasy" and "Summer Storm".
480 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1986
1 person is currently reading
116 people want to read
About the author
Catherine Hart
39 books117 followersCatherine Hart is one of today's most popular romance authors and has earned many prestigious writing awards since she started her craft. With 16 historical romances and 2 novellas under her belt, Catherine keeps very busy giving romance readers lots of great reading. Many of her books have made their way to bestseller lists then went on to win awards such as the Romantic Times Storyteller of the Year, a Lifetime Achievement Award for Western Romance. Also, she was recently inducted into her high school's Distinguished Alumni Hall of Fame, an honor she cherishes. Catherine is donating total profits from one of her novellas to promoting adult literacy and she credits her success to a firm belief in true and lasting love, an overactive imagination, an insatiable thirst for knowledge and an off-the-wall sense of humor.
Catherine resides in Ohio, where she was born and raised and she is the mother of 3 grown children, a "Nana" and the adoptive "mama" of a Siamese cat named Sassy and a Pekingese dog named B.J., both of whom have found a place in her historical novels. Ms. Hart has a passion for Ohio State football, Native American crafts and culture, romantic movies and books, travel, "oldies tunes" and her husband of 29 years, her own special hero.
Catherine resides in Ohio, where she was born and raised and she is the mother of 3 grown children, a "Nana" and the adoptive "mama" of a Siamese cat named Sassy and a Pekingese dog named B.J., both of whom have found a place in her historical novels. Ms. Hart has a passion for Ohio State football, Native American crafts and culture, romantic movies and books, travel, "oldies tunes" and her husband of 29 years, her own special hero.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
January 5, 2013
IN HER ENEMY'S ARMS
Returning to her father's Texas ranch after two years at an Eastern boarding school, silver-blonde, violet-eyed Laurel Burke was more beautiful than ever. As she stepped off the train, her gaze met that of rugged young rancher Brandon Prescott, and a long-smoldering flame was instantly rekindled.
But a bitter family feud had sown seeds of distrust and hatred between the Burkes and the Prescotts, and Laurel's father was adamantly opposed to a match between his beloved daughter and his sworn enemy.
Bound to one another by searing passion, Laurel and Brandon would have to overcome deceit, misunderstanding, and three generations of violent enmity before they could yield to a lifetime of ecstasy....
Awesome book on of catherine hart's best.The chemistry between the H & h was potent.
Returning to her father's Texas ranch after two years at an Eastern boarding school, silver-blonde, violet-eyed Laurel Burke was more beautiful than ever. As she stepped off the train, her gaze met that of rugged young rancher Brandon Prescott, and a long-smoldering flame was instantly rekindled.
But a bitter family feud had sown seeds of distrust and hatred between the Burkes and the Prescotts, and Laurel's father was adamantly opposed to a match between his beloved daughter and his sworn enemy.
Bound to one another by searing passion, Laurel and Brandon would have to overcome deceit, misunderstanding, and three generations of violent enmity before they could yield to a lifetime of ecstasy....
Awesome book on of catherine hart's best.The chemistry between the H & h was potent.
October 13, 2025
While I'm not a Catherine Hart fan, I decided to give this book a try, and while it turned out to be a good story, it had quite a few flaws as well.
The story takes place in Texas in the early 1900's, with stops in both Mexico and San Francisco. Laurel Burke and Brandon Prescott start out as star crossed lovers, coming from a background of feuding families that Laurel's father, Rex can't let go of. With the help of his reluctant sister, Martha he manages to keep them apart for two years, managing to convince each the other had fallen for someone else, then sending Laurel to school in Boston. He still doesn't cease to cause them problems when they find their way back to each other. Adding to their difficulties, Brandon is convinced that Rex is responsible for the cattle rustling that has been going on and is determined to prove it, causing a rift between him and Laurel, who feels torn between him and her father.
What weakens this story is how quickly both Brandon and Laurel add to their problems by mistrusting each other and being too quick to believe the worst. You'd think after that first misunderstanding at a young age (though engineered by Rex, it wouldn't have worked so easily if they'd trusted each other more) they'd have both grown up a bit and been less judgmental and more flexible. Instead, without hard evidence, Brandon keeps insisting Rex is guilty and expects Laurel to believe him and not have doubts. On Laurel's part, after many an argument with her father and refusing to give up Brandon, stating her independence from his control, she still hesitates to take the final step and marry Brandon, claiming she doesn't want to hurt Rex. She keeps stalling and asking Brandon for more time to get Rex to come around, even after learning of his deception that kept them apart for two years. It takes forever and a day to talk her into eloping.
More than once, she suspects he only married her to get back at her father. More than once, he suspects she knows her father is guilty and is protecting him. Not a good basis for a happy marriage.
For some reason, Ms. Hart decides to take the reader on many side trips, which feel like a lot of filler. On their way to Mexico (where Brandon has business with Miguel Cordoba), we get pages and pages of description of their tough travels over the desert, the brilliant starlit scene at night, an encounter with bandits (while it was exciting, it was hardly necessary), a lengthy tour of the sites of Mexico City, long descriptions of Mexican holiday feasts and festivals, and other things that while are informative, could easily be googled anytime the reader might be interested. While I appreciate accurate historical background in HR books, as well as learning something, this was all a bit too much. I think Ms. Hart wanted to stretch out the novel for some reason, maybe she got paid by the word???
I can't say the same for her descriptions of the San Francisco earthquake and its aftermath, which were excellent, and necessary to the story. The time Laurel and Brandon spend there was the best in the book, and I was hoping they'd remain there, but the author had other plans.
Too many times in the story, Laurel and Brandon, for all their love for each other, show too much distrust and suspicion. And more than once Laurel resorts to (that tired nonsense used so many times in HR novels) running away, leaving Brandon to search for and chase after her. Ms. Hart actually makes Laurel do this three times! The first was understandable, because they had been arguing so much, due to a letter Brandon wrote to Rex, making it sound like he'd married Laurel as part of a game plan. The second (also prompted by doubts to do with their marriage) was necessary to bring the earthquake into the story, but the third was just ridiculous! At that point, she was just being silly and stubborn, not to mention reckless, as she was pregnant with twins at the time, and made everyone go berserk trying to find her.
Laurel was likeable but annoying, as was Brandon, who was so certain Rex was guilty without solid evidence and was frustrated that Laurel wouldn't take his word about that and turn against her father. (Would he have done that if it was his father? I don't think so.) They could both be a bit too much.
What was also too much was when, after they each went through heartbreak after thinking the other dead, they no sooner are together again they they're fighting! Then, no one acts the way they should! Laurel acts too stubborn and won't listen to anything Brandon has to say. Brandon, meanwhile, keeps reminding her of how passionate their lovemaking has always been, as if that's the only reason they belong together. If it is, better pray neither one's ever injured badly and can't do their "spousal" duty!
I could also have done without the ridiculous romance between Rex and the newly widowed Becky, who was Laurel's age! She sure didn't mourn her husband for long, and her "love" for Rex was probably motivated by financial security, otherwise why would she want to be stepmom to a former schoolmate? She should have been paired with Brandon's brother Hank instead.
And the character of Muriel, shouldn't have been in the story at all! She wasn't needed as the OW, as Brandon had no interest in her and was never involved with her, and her attempt to seduce him while he's drunk and thinks she's Laurel would get her arrested for attempted rape today! She could easily have been done without!
I won't give away anymore and will just say that it's still a good story, despite the flaws, but if you read it, prepare to be annoyed at times.
The story takes place in Texas in the early 1900's, with stops in both Mexico and San Francisco. Laurel Burke and Brandon Prescott start out as star crossed lovers, coming from a background of feuding families that Laurel's father, Rex can't let go of. With the help of his reluctant sister, Martha he manages to keep them apart for two years, managing to convince each the other had fallen for someone else, then sending Laurel to school in Boston. He still doesn't cease to cause them problems when they find their way back to each other. Adding to their difficulties, Brandon is convinced that Rex is responsible for the cattle rustling that has been going on and is determined to prove it, causing a rift between him and Laurel, who feels torn between him and her father.
What weakens this story is how quickly both Brandon and Laurel add to their problems by mistrusting each other and being too quick to believe the worst. You'd think after that first misunderstanding at a young age (though engineered by Rex, it wouldn't have worked so easily if they'd trusted each other more) they'd have both grown up a bit and been less judgmental and more flexible. Instead, without hard evidence, Brandon keeps insisting Rex is guilty and expects Laurel to believe him and not have doubts. On Laurel's part, after many an argument with her father and refusing to give up Brandon, stating her independence from his control, she still hesitates to take the final step and marry Brandon, claiming she doesn't want to hurt Rex. She keeps stalling and asking Brandon for more time to get Rex to come around, even after learning of his deception that kept them apart for two years. It takes forever and a day to talk her into eloping.
More than once, she suspects he only married her to get back at her father. More than once, he suspects she knows her father is guilty and is protecting him. Not a good basis for a happy marriage.
For some reason, Ms. Hart decides to take the reader on many side trips, which feel like a lot of filler. On their way to Mexico (where Brandon has business with Miguel Cordoba), we get pages and pages of description of their tough travels over the desert, the brilliant starlit scene at night, an encounter with bandits (while it was exciting, it was hardly necessary), a lengthy tour of the sites of Mexico City, long descriptions of Mexican holiday feasts and festivals, and other things that while are informative, could easily be googled anytime the reader might be interested. While I appreciate accurate historical background in HR books, as well as learning something, this was all a bit too much. I think Ms. Hart wanted to stretch out the novel for some reason, maybe she got paid by the word???
I can't say the same for her descriptions of the San Francisco earthquake and its aftermath, which were excellent, and necessary to the story. The time Laurel and Brandon spend there was the best in the book, and I was hoping they'd remain there, but the author had other plans.
Too many times in the story, Laurel and Brandon, for all their love for each other, show too much distrust and suspicion. And more than once Laurel resorts to (that tired nonsense used so many times in HR novels) running away, leaving Brandon to search for and chase after her. Ms. Hart actually makes Laurel do this three times! The first was understandable, because they had been arguing so much, due to a letter Brandon wrote to Rex, making it sound like he'd married Laurel as part of a game plan. The second (also prompted by doubts to do with their marriage) was necessary to bring the earthquake into the story, but the third was just ridiculous! At that point, she was just being silly and stubborn, not to mention reckless, as she was pregnant with twins at the time, and made everyone go berserk trying to find her.
Laurel was likeable but annoying, as was Brandon, who was so certain Rex was guilty without solid evidence and was frustrated that Laurel wouldn't take his word about that and turn against her father. (Would he have done that if it was his father? I don't think so.) They could both be a bit too much.
What was also too much was when, after they each went through heartbreak after thinking the other dead, they no sooner are together again they they're fighting! Then, no one acts the way they should! Laurel acts too stubborn and won't listen to anything Brandon has to say. Brandon, meanwhile, keeps reminding her of how passionate their lovemaking has always been, as if that's the only reason they belong together. If it is, better pray neither one's ever injured badly and can't do their "spousal" duty!
I could also have done without the ridiculous romance between Rex and the newly widowed Becky, who was Laurel's age! She sure didn't mourn her husband for long, and her "love" for Rex was probably motivated by financial security, otherwise why would she want to be stepmom to a former schoolmate? She should have been paired with Brandon's brother Hank instead.
And the character of Muriel, shouldn't have been in the story at all! She wasn't needed as the OW, as Brandon had no interest in her and was never involved with her, and her attempt to seduce him while he's drunk and thinks she's Laurel would get her arrested for attempted rape today! She could easily have been done without!
I won't give away anymore and will just say that it's still a good story, despite the flaws, but if you read it, prepare to be annoyed at times.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2023
Do you enjoy the female main character getting her dream man? Do you enjoy tender love and sweet words? Then put this down cause theres less of that in here then anything.
Laurel is the female main character and who has inherited her father's stubbornness, it starts off with a miscommunication. Then after 2 years she comes back and just more of it. Everywhere you turn she's running away from the main she claims to love more then anything and on top of that he adores her, but as soon as she gets pregnant she goes "oh no! I'm pregnant! Surely he'd hate me!" And tried to run away again!! If you enjoy rollercoasters then yes read this.
Laurel is the female main character and who has inherited her father's stubbornness, it starts off with a miscommunication. Then after 2 years she comes back and just more of it. Everywhere you turn she's running away from the main she claims to love more then anything and on top of that he adores her, but as soon as she gets pregnant she goes "oh no! I'm pregnant! Surely he'd hate me!" And tried to run away again!! If you enjoy rollercoasters then yes read this.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews