What do you think?
Rate this book
Necklace Trilogy #2
The Devil's Necklace
Book 2 in The Bride's Necklace Trilogy A New York Times Bestselling Author To British privateer Ethan Sharpe, Grace Chastain is nothing but a pawn for vengeance against Harmon Jeffries, the traitor responsible for his brutal years in prison. Believing Grace to be Jeffries' mistress, he plans to humiliate his enemy by seducing her. But Ethan quickly realizes that Grace is not the wicked woman he imagined her to be . . .
563 pages, Hardcover
First published July 26, 2005
107 people are currently reading
1061 people want to read
About the author
Kat Martin
188 books3,170 followersKathleen Kelly Martin (aka Kathy Lawrence, Kasey Mars)
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews
March 7, 2018
Ethan Sharpe is many things including a marquess, a privateer, and also HELLBENT ON REVENGE. Grace Chastain is a few things, too, including a bastard, a redhead, and KIDNAPPED BY PIRATES. So when the pirate king (Ethan) seduces her and leaves her IN THE FAMILY WAY, they end up married. Thus follows the apparently patented Martin resolution: Hero REFUSES TO FEEL FEELINGS; Heroine YEARNS AND PINES AND PLOTS; dramatic guns-drawn climax: HAPPY EVER AFTER, SUCKERS.
1. I do these things to myself.
2. The writing in this was a freaking disaster. I'm not certain if it's a formatting thing or a stylistic choice, but the multitude of ~~section breaks paired with missing action/dialogue/etc., IN ADDITION to the repetitious narrative with clumsy contradictions makes this very poorly written.
3. There's a very gross plot thread about how Ethan can't love Grace or their baby because she might be the daughter of a traitor and that shit don't play with me. (Mostly it's the "can't love the baby cause it's RELATED TO THE BAD MAN" nonsense; I get that he feels slightly betrayed by Grace since she's the one who helped her dad escape prison.)
4. Also the entire relationship is straight off the shelf Stockholm syndrome SO YAY FOR THAT.
5. This was just not as entertaining as the first and that's partially because the writing was so bad and partially because I literally just read the exact same story with a brunette and an Earl instead of a redhead and a marquess?? I am not shocked.
6. There was plenty of soapy nonsense in this one, too: a whole treason plot, a baby kidnapping plot, a near-miss hanging, a creepy old lady at some castle ruins, stalking spouses, AND MUCH MORE.
1. I do these things to myself.
2. The writing in this was a freaking disaster. I'm not certain if it's a formatting thing or a stylistic choice, but the multitude of ~~section breaks paired with missing action/dialogue/etc., IN ADDITION to the repetitious narrative with clumsy contradictions makes this very poorly written.
3. There's a very gross plot thread about how Ethan can't love Grace or their baby because she might be the daughter of a traitor and that shit don't play with me. (Mostly it's the "can't love the baby cause it's RELATED TO THE BAD MAN" nonsense; I get that he feels slightly betrayed by Grace since she's the one who helped her dad escape prison.)
4. Also the entire relationship is straight off the shelf Stockholm syndrome SO YAY FOR THAT.
5. This was just not as entertaining as the first and that's partially because the writing was so bad and partially because I literally just read the exact same story with a brunette and an Earl instead of a redhead and a marquess?? I am not shocked.
6. There was plenty of soapy nonsense in this one, too: a whole treason plot, a baby kidnapping plot, a near-miss hanging, a creepy old lady at some castle ruins, stalking spouses, AND MUCH MORE.
June 8, 2024
What we have here is a failure to communicate, not that I think it would have made much of a difference, but at least some honesty may have led to a better outcome. IMHO anyway. Published in 2005 it misses the bodice ripper decades, but this forceable kidnapping and seduction tale comes close. I can't quite call is angst, but it certainly is melodrama, anyway it is a lot more emoting than I care for in my HR, although he last 20% was pretty good.
Captain Eathan Sharpe encountered the French, and he lost his ship and most of his crew. He and the survivors spent months in a French prison and barely survived before his friends managed to rescue him. A traitor was the reason and when the man escaped the gallows, Ethan vows to find him and kill him.
Grace Chastain never knew about her real father, Harmon Jeffries. Her mother kept his identity a secret. When she found out and that he had been wrongly convicted of treason, she paid a lot of money to aid his escape. Now she is on her way to her great aunt to hod out until things cool down in London. On her way, she is abducted by Captain Sharpe who believes she was Jeffries mistress. As far as Ethan is concerned, she is fair game in his little revenge plot. So, now they are on board a ship and Grace is so not what Ethan expected. Graces clings to the antique pearl necklace which legend says will bring her great happiness.
Captain Eathan Sharpe encountered the French, and he lost his ship and most of his crew. He and the survivors spent months in a French prison and barely survived before his friends managed to rescue him. A traitor was the reason and when the man escaped the gallows, Ethan vows to find him and kill him.
Grace Chastain never knew about her real father, Harmon Jeffries. Her mother kept his identity a secret. When she found out and that he had been wrongly convicted of treason, she paid a lot of money to aid his escape. Now she is on her way to her great aunt to hod out until things cool down in London. On her way, she is abducted by Captain Sharpe who believes she was Jeffries mistress. As far as Ethan is concerned, she is fair game in his little revenge plot. So, now they are on board a ship and Grace is so not what Ethan expected. Graces clings to the antique pearl necklace which legend says will bring her great happiness.
August 27, 2016
Ethan Sharpe, privateer, and, oh yeah, Marquess of Belford, is a little
A guy named Harmon Jeffries ratted him and his crew out when they were on a mission. The Frenchies got them, killed most, and Ethan ended up in a French prison until his escape. Jeffries was caught, convicted, and sentenced to death, but he, too, escaped from prison. Ethan's out to catch the man and make him pay for what he did.
Ethan's figured out how Jeffries escaped—seems the man's mistress paid some guys to help him out. So the best lead just now is said mistress, who happens to be aboard a ship—and did I mention that Ethan is a privateer?
Grace Chastain is the gal who helped Jeffries escape—except she isn't the man's mistress. She's the daughter nobody knows he has. Seems he and her mum played Clicket (as opposed to Cricket) one night. Which explains why her mum's hubby, the good Vicar Chastain, treats her like Pilgrim's Salve (look it up). Her real da might be a traitor, but she couldn't just let him swing.
Ethan waylays the ship that was taking her to visit distant relations until things die down. Grace is forcibly abducted by a man who thinks she's a skank ho (but damn if she ain't friggin' gorgeous). To her credit, while she notes that her kidnapper is also pretty hawt, she doesn't turn into a puddle of goo when he breathes in her ear. She makes him work for it, which gains her a star from me. To his credit, Ethan's not a guy who would force things, but that doesn't stop him from also treating her like Pilgrim's Salve—it gets worse when he finds out who she really is, since he hates himself for being all
Over the daughter of the man who killed his crew. It seems disloyal.
There's a nice little mystery tucked in towards the end, as well as another abduction and more than one real villain. I can only say this heroine ain't nobody's doormat.
Fact is, I got involved in the book and didn't want to do anything but read until I was done. Once done, instead of doing any of the dozen chores on my agenda, I took the 45 minute drive up to 2nd and Charles (shameless plug—name another store that lets you walk out with 10 books for less than $17) to find the other two in the series. Sadly, they weren't on the shelf—Amazon, here I come!
There were a few editorial issues--things like using the word "undo" when the author meant "undue," and, while the story's emotional impact was powerful, there were a few odd things that distanced me. So this wasn't the Holy Grail of books for me, but still, it rates a VERY rare 4.5 stars.
A guy named Harmon Jeffries ratted him and his crew out when they were on a mission. The Frenchies got them, killed most, and Ethan ended up in a French prison until his escape. Jeffries was caught, convicted, and sentenced to death, but he, too, escaped from prison. Ethan's out to catch the man and make him pay for what he did.
Ethan's figured out how Jeffries escaped—seems the man's mistress paid some guys to help him out. So the best lead just now is said mistress, who happens to be aboard a ship—and did I mention that Ethan is a privateer?
Grace Chastain is the gal who helped Jeffries escape—except she isn't the man's mistress. She's the daughter nobody knows he has. Seems he and her mum played Clicket (as opposed to Cricket) one night. Which explains why her mum's hubby, the good Vicar Chastain, treats her like Pilgrim's Salve (look it up). Her real da might be a traitor, but she couldn't just let him swing.
Ethan waylays the ship that was taking her to visit distant relations until things die down. Grace is forcibly abducted by a man who thinks she's a skank ho (but damn if she ain't friggin' gorgeous). To her credit, while she notes that her kidnapper is also pretty hawt, she doesn't turn into a puddle of goo when he breathes in her ear. She makes him work for it, which gains her a star from me. To his credit, Ethan's not a guy who would force things, but that doesn't stop him from also treating her like Pilgrim's Salve—it gets worse when he finds out who she really is, since he hates himself for being all
Over the daughter of the man who killed his crew. It seems disloyal.
There's a nice little mystery tucked in towards the end, as well as another abduction and more than one real villain. I can only say this heroine ain't nobody's doormat.
Fact is, I got involved in the book and didn't want to do anything but read until I was done. Once done, instead of doing any of the dozen chores on my agenda, I took the 45 minute drive up to 2nd and Charles (shameless plug—name another store that lets you walk out with 10 books for less than $17) to find the other two in the series. Sadly, they weren't on the shelf—Amazon, here I come!
There were a few editorial issues--things like using the word "undo" when the author meant "undue," and, while the story's emotional impact was powerful, there were a few odd things that distanced me. So this wasn't the Holy Grail of books for me, but still, it rates a VERY rare 4.5 stars.
February 7, 2021
this book seemed to last a lifeage.at one point,i thought it was never going to end.
i had read the 1st book in this series,and hadn't really liked it all that much,but i decided to read this one.
it had all the elemants i usually like in a romance book,like
-the girl gets captured.
-the guy gets jealous at the ball&they leave,
but kat martin crammed every single thing possible to put into a historical romance book-that other authors have done,and done well at..but it just fell flat in here.
she even threw in the baby getting kidnapped.
the main character and her friend planned to make her husband jealous at the ball because she was dancing with other men and he gets jealous & swoops her up&carries her out of there.but i didn't believe he was jealous at all.&back then,with the strict code they had to live by,you couldn't have just carried someone out of the dance-no matter how sweet the idea seems!
i was getting sick of the guy in here constantly going 'but she's my enemy's daughter.'i just wanted to smack him and say get over it!
like the book was almost over and he still hadn't gotten over it.i was seriously wondering if they were even going to have a happy ending at all! i don't know if i ever thought his feelings were sincere.
it was a little exhausting reading this,to be honest.
-i started reading this for the 2nd time &i don't remember it being this bad.
i kind of dont like when the guy is a privateer/pirate &also a marquess,duke,etc. because it doesn't go together.&it's like too nice that the girl gets a sea-faring guy&a rich guy.
grace comes off boring from the 1st moment u read about her.
&why would tory (from the 1st bk) give stupid grace her priceless pearls? they should stay in the family.id rather the pearls fall n the ocean than grace have them.
she seems rude,casting looks@ the guy on the ship.&sayin why not i have nothin better2do when he asks her4 a stroll.who r u2 be so hard2impress?
this is 1 of those authors that get lost n the historic aspect &think they have2 write prim&proper which is highly boring&stiff.
it's relateable that she hasnt liked ne1 enough 2consider marriage,but she comes off as arrogant &rude.
so annoying how the guys say "he admired her courage."
he hates grace's guts because shes the "enemy" &yet he offers her a wrap because shes cold.wth? &the guy doesnt have 2immediately find the girl beautiful or be hit w/lust.that just makes the guy look like a horndog.
grace just lets herself be taken w/o a fight.
"who was he?the devil,he had said,&she believed him." i actually think grace is dumb enough to think he's rlly the devil.
she knows he hates her &so she breaks off n2 her thoughts about his looks&then blushes @the memory of "the intimate contact" of her with his back.this isn't the time 4that!
"she couldnt image the devil captain every laughing@anything except,perhaps,someone else's pain." u dont know him that well 4that assessment.&usually that line would have come off funny n a bk, but n here,n grace's stuffy personality,it doesn't even make me crack a smile.
her finding approval w/his furnishing was just ridiculous.the slight sarcastic comment she made was good-ish but she needs2 step it up.sum1 recently kidnapped would be a lot more sarcastic,rude& wanna fight back.&she just offers up her pearls out of nowhere.they're a keepsake from ur friend.wth were u thinkin?
ethan isn't likeable.at all.certainly not the romantic hero u want n a bk.he hates grace because she helped a criminal get away&thinks she's a whore so why would u wanna sleep w/ur "enemie's whore" &some1 u hate?!
n storylines similar 2this,its a good thing its the main character he plans2 get with,because he just thinks its a whore.&i dont like when the guy thinks its a whore,because then its like he's ok with whores.like if it wasn't the main girl then id be mad.
when he said "the man had a wife&children.the girl is a whore." it sounded like he didnt like whores-props to him-but then hes like "she'll whore4me." &then we find out he's had several paramours n the past.why,how likeable.
he hates her&plans2 have sex w/her until he's "satisfied." as if that sounds logical. &then says "until this nite he had nvr behaved as nething but a gentleman where a woman was concerned. the mistresses he had kept over the yrs had been treated well&fairly." as if thats supposed2 redeem u n our eyes.as if its ok 2use&abuse her just becuz u hate her.
he leaves her n his cabin 4hrs &she duznt try2 escape.loser?yea.
"that she was exhausted was written n every line of her face.that she was frightened,thos she had done her best not2show it,seemed more than clear." he deduces all this while she's asleep.
"she looked younged&innocent&more enticing then any woman he had ever seen." dont even believe stuff like this nemore.&its sumtimes more believable if the guy duznt find her the most beautiful&ends up likin her.
"had a temper as fiery as her hair." when exactly has she unleashed this "fiery temper?"
instead of wakin up sumtime durin the nite &escapin or tying the guy up or sumthin,she sleeps.
shes about2 cry& hes bothered &she looks vulnreable &his chest tightens.i mean, come on w/this crap.
there again,for all he knows,hes havin these feelings about a whore.which i wud absolutely hate!
says she'd nvr 4get his kiss.wth.
he took the letter opener from her &threw it across the room&then takes it when he leaves.& d.a. grace looks4 it on the desk.
grace acts sooo old&proper.
why would the author want the guy character 2act like this &treat her girl character in such a deporable way?does ne1 find this romantic?
she keeps thinkin ethan for lil things &sayin he's generous 2 send food &a tub.he's kidnapped u&wants u2 have sex w/him.&ur seriously makin a comment of his generosity?man this girl is DUMB.i would treat his gestures with derision &sarcasm.
she sed the comb set was prob.for a paramour of his.&she dint even find nething wrong w/it.this shud show how dumb this girl is.&it was nvr addressed with ethan n the bk.
"demand he take her on deck." um,why dont u just walk up there?she mentions its becuz of the crew,but i didnt realize they were so dangerous.
&i didnt know guys wore night rails.ethan could have gotten her trunk off the ship.
&the water was rainwater so how was it heated up4 her bath?
i didnt know a limp became more pronounced when u get upset.
i just love comments like this-"w/a skill that told her he was no stranger2 the feminine wardrobe." he makes comments about her being a whore&that shes ben naked n front of guys &instead of correcting him as ne1 w/ sense would have,she blushes.her big stand is a blush.she's so unlikeable! &no gently bred lady wud get n2 a tub w/a guy there.&the whole keepin silent thing so he knows less about u is stupid.wut advantage wud u have that he duznt know u arent a slut? romance bks can be so irritating.a lil miscommunication ruins everything.
lavendar soap 4girl on his ship.great.
he hates her&yet hes washin her&complimenting her hair.boy u sure show ur hated n strange ways.
how wud an innocent know wut happens2 guys wen they get aroused?
"she kept him constantly off balance." how exactly has she dun that?
having ethan say a guy wasn't bad-lookin prob.wasn't a wise choice.
readin it the 2nd time just bumped it down2 1 star.
he leaves u n the cabin all day.u ask2 go out &he says no but he'll let u take a stroll once a day& u feel u shud be "happy for the concession." WTH! no character has acted like this b4.most ppl wud get extremely sarcastic @this point.but grace is thankful4 sum1 who's not only kidnapped her, thinks shes a whore&plans2 sleep w/her continuously but keeps her confined.&shes thankful.
she knows the captain will be leaving ship &duznt plan on escaping.she hopes that the ship will make more stops where the captain might let her off ship.her idiocy knows no bounds.
ethan-king of repitition-"he couldnt remember wantin a woman so badly." why dont i believe u?
"if only he could harness that passion.put it2 a far more pleasant use." remembered "her luscious curves." i hate when authors make things so phsyical.i mean, horndog!
she actually has2 remind herself not2 be greatful&a sentence l8r she thanks him4the ugly whores clothes.stop thankin him!i swear he cud push her off the ship/make her walk the plank&she'd thank him.
&she suddenly tells that her adopted dad treated her bad.
repitition-mentions her dad writin letters wantin2 know her.
he calls her outspoken.how exactly has she ben outspoken?
"he saw himself as a bit of a ladys man,which she found faintly amusing." why is that amusing?
huggin her after they almost drowned was so out of character.he duznt even like her that much.
stop callin him pirate!he sed he wasnt 1.
am i the only 1 not buying n2 ethans fastpaced unrealistic feelings. "she is mine."
grace is "reckless." um..ok. & unafraid of danger.sure..
cant stand ppl who talk of cheatin as if its ok.lady humphrey actually says that harmon liked graces pluck.that his kids were dull.if grace isnt dull,who is?! &it as like well grace may be his by-blow but@least she isnt "dull" like his kids.ugh i dont rlly like readin about illegitimate kids.i just dont agree w/cheatin.
usually n a bk wen the girl escapes its a good moment but n here the way they saw her swimmin was stupid.&she just gives up.
no innocent wud so readily give up her innocence.she doesnt even know ethan.&the whole no mad wud offer4a woman of questionable virture didnt fit this situation becuz only a few ppl knew of her voyage on the ship.sayin u'd nvr have a husband was so dramatic &wrong.
"at any rate" and "just let yourself go" seems pretty modern.
i just luv when authors have innocents act like sluts.
he says it must have ben a while since she'd been w/jeffries &instead of goin wth r u talkin about? she gets embarrassed&then calmly states that she wasnt his mistress.sum1 accused of bein their dad mistress wudnt act like that.they'd be wth!
&now that he knows shes jeffries daughter everytime he looks@her he'll pic.his dead crew.&u didnt feel that way wen u thought she was his mistress!?
her dad is supposed 2be a secret so ethan just tells his 1st mate.
"offered him the pleasure of her sweetly luscious body." gag.
there shud be a word count on how many times she thanks ethan.
her home life is vague.idk how she found her dads letters.
no romance between the characters.idt ethans capable of feelin genuine emotions.
of course she thanks him4 the necklace,which he shud have returned neway.&then she kisses him.if ur tryin2make a big stand,ur failing miserably.ur supposed2 be the 1who walks away 1st.
why wud aunt matilda think ethan had demanded nething4 her safe return?
he tells cord grace is jeffries daughter.cord already knew,but ethan dint know that.
he'd think of grace&her "lucsious body" but then he'd think of his crew,dead,beaten, tortured.blah blah blah.&then he'd hate her.used2 feel sympathy 4him,now im annoyed.
&the whole deep kiss,we 4got where we were n the church is so overdone.ive read it a million times.why wud they spend their weddin nite @her aunts friends house?! she tells us she knows the vicar &tweed's house w/o mentioning it2 us b4.
she looked "frayed." wth.
im just not buyin ethans feelins.hes overcome w/lust all the time.its annoying!&i think he only feels lust4her.i hate ppl that get so overcome w/desire that they 4get2 be upset.&shes all hes my husband.i have2 do wut he wants.after he ignores her he has the gall2 say "do u intend 2deny me my husbandly rites?" &grace is stupid enuff2 say "i wont deny u." idk who i hate more.&grace teases him after he plans on leavin her n the country.
"had his fill.hardly.he was leavin becuz he cudnt get enuff of her." who bought that?
i like that she sed they cud both seek pleasure outside their marriage cuz it sounded like sumthin a normal character wud say.idk why ethan got so upset cuz he duznt rlly like her.
"fly" as in his zipper is modern!
we no ethan only married her becuz of the baby,he even sed so himself, so harriet sayin "if he hadnt wished2 marry u there is nothin on this earth that cud have moved him2 do so" was jus wrong.
not sure how tory1st received the pearls.¬ the descendant of lady ariana.how wud mabina no that fallon 1st desired ariana&then came2 luv her?
he admits 2not bein pleased shes there.
'"r u certain u shud be travelin n ur condition?"he asked,only a lil concerned,considering her robust constitution.' why,how sweet.
she plans2 teach freddiðan shows up&she gets submissive. stop cowering,get a backbone.
evven after grace sed no women&that if he cheated so wud she he plans2 get a mistress.idc if he dint find the idea appealing.the fact that he even planned it makes him a bastard n my eyes.
the comments from both of them about her becomin fat&ungainly r ridiculous.&wut guy wud rlly find his pregnant wife repugnant.
every1 is "tall &imposing." ethans chest is always "tightening."
"prayed she hadnt driven him n2the arms of another woman." u dont drive ur man thre.
"4 the 1st time he was sincerely glad he had married grace." this is towards the end of the bk.&only 2protect her from law.
he dismisses her&shes like makin luv was wonderful.&then flees the room.so pathetic.
i hate how he pretends they have a better relationship than they do n public.callin her "my love."
"high spirited.dun reckless things." shes not high spirited &wut truly reckless things has she dun?
"it made him phsyically ill2think how badly he wanted2 stay home w/grace." hmm,insert major doubt. if this bk was a movie,ppl wud be throwin tomatoes @the screen everytime he talked.
"wud be better if his cousin worried about grace."wut did that mean?
why shud she worry about encouraging martin wen shes married.he shud give up.
how wud bright blue baby eyes turn n2 golden brown?
things r thrown out that arent mentioned b4hand.like she had visited her aunts friends house.or that her aunt had ben ill.
the vengeance crap is wearin me out.im so sick of his conflicting feelings.he keeps bouncin around-finally luvs her then says but she was his enemies daughter.&then says it again after he returns home from spain.
"bogus" modern!
how can a baby have refined features?!
she had the baby look completely like ethan.
he nvr tried2 put the pas tbehind him.
they're always "less certain than ever" about the future.
grace asks ethan if he took the baby2 spite her.like ethan wut do that.
grace kept sayin perhaps when this happened,ethan wud love her/act like a real family-nvr happened.
innapropriate moments she'd be like "he sed he luved her.she hoped it was true."
she actually gives the guy the pearls w/o gettin her baby 1st.
mental image of her weildin a broom was a stupid1.
"keyed up." modern? yeah.
he was so hardcore revenge that the way he finally let it go was unrealistic.&hes like i wanna meet ur dad &instead of bein a lil skeptic shes ecstatic.&only gets wary l8r.
he wants her 2trust him but who cud?!
1of those bks where they have limited time2 do sumthin &no1 rlly duz nething. they had4 days 2clear her dads name ðan&grace rlly dint do nething.
it was a lil 2 convenient that her dad wasn't a traitor.
the book did get better towards the end.&i mean the very end.like the last couple of chapters.&the epilogue.
im not sure i like where the series is goin tho.the girl rafe is engaged2 didn't actually betray him but rafe is now engaged.&then shes goin2 america 2get married.i mean wth!
i didn't like how in the end,they said rafe's fiance was too shy and timid for him.that's insulting to shy&timid ppl.&i dont like how he's engaged &he's gotta break it off cause his lost love is back. that's cruel to his fiance.
i had read the 1st book in this series,and hadn't really liked it all that much,but i decided to read this one.
it had all the elemants i usually like in a romance book,like
-the girl gets captured.
-the guy gets jealous at the ball&they leave,
but kat martin crammed every single thing possible to put into a historical romance book-that other authors have done,and done well at..but it just fell flat in here.
she even threw in the baby getting kidnapped.
the main character and her friend planned to make her husband jealous at the ball because she was dancing with other men and he gets jealous & swoops her up&carries her out of there.but i didn't believe he was jealous at all.&back then,with the strict code they had to live by,you couldn't have just carried someone out of the dance-no matter how sweet the idea seems!
i was getting sick of the guy in here constantly going 'but she's my enemy's daughter.'i just wanted to smack him and say get over it!
like the book was almost over and he still hadn't gotten over it.i was seriously wondering if they were even going to have a happy ending at all! i don't know if i ever thought his feelings were sincere.
it was a little exhausting reading this,to be honest.
-i started reading this for the 2nd time &i don't remember it being this bad.
i kind of dont like when the guy is a privateer/pirate &also a marquess,duke,etc. because it doesn't go together.&it's like too nice that the girl gets a sea-faring guy&a rich guy.
grace comes off boring from the 1st moment u read about her.
&why would tory (from the 1st bk) give stupid grace her priceless pearls? they should stay in the family.id rather the pearls fall n the ocean than grace have them.
she seems rude,casting looks@ the guy on the ship.&sayin why not i have nothin better2do when he asks her4 a stroll.who r u2 be so hard2impress?
this is 1 of those authors that get lost n the historic aspect &think they have2 write prim&proper which is highly boring&stiff.
it's relateable that she hasnt liked ne1 enough 2consider marriage,but she comes off as arrogant &rude.
so annoying how the guys say "he admired her courage."
he hates grace's guts because shes the "enemy" &yet he offers her a wrap because shes cold.wth? &the guy doesnt have 2immediately find the girl beautiful or be hit w/lust.that just makes the guy look like a horndog.
grace just lets herself be taken w/o a fight.
"who was he?the devil,he had said,&she believed him." i actually think grace is dumb enough to think he's rlly the devil.
she knows he hates her &so she breaks off n2 her thoughts about his looks&then blushes @the memory of "the intimate contact" of her with his back.this isn't the time 4that!
"she couldnt image the devil captain every laughing@anything except,perhaps,someone else's pain." u dont know him that well 4that assessment.&usually that line would have come off funny n a bk, but n here,n grace's stuffy personality,it doesn't even make me crack a smile.
her finding approval w/his furnishing was just ridiculous.the slight sarcastic comment she made was good-ish but she needs2 step it up.sum1 recently kidnapped would be a lot more sarcastic,rude& wanna fight back.&she just offers up her pearls out of nowhere.they're a keepsake from ur friend.wth were u thinkin?
ethan isn't likeable.at all.certainly not the romantic hero u want n a bk.he hates grace because she helped a criminal get away&thinks she's a whore so why would u wanna sleep w/ur "enemie's whore" &some1 u hate?!
n storylines similar 2this,its a good thing its the main character he plans2 get with,because he just thinks its a whore.&i dont like when the guy thinks its a whore,because then its like he's ok with whores.like if it wasn't the main girl then id be mad.
when he said "the man had a wife&children.the girl is a whore." it sounded like he didnt like whores-props to him-but then hes like "she'll whore4me." &then we find out he's had several paramours n the past.why,how likeable.
he hates her&plans2 have sex w/her until he's "satisfied." as if that sounds logical. &then says "until this nite he had nvr behaved as nething but a gentleman where a woman was concerned. the mistresses he had kept over the yrs had been treated well&fairly." as if thats supposed2 redeem u n our eyes.as if its ok 2use&abuse her just becuz u hate her.
he leaves her n his cabin 4hrs &she duznt try2 escape.loser?yea.
"that she was exhausted was written n every line of her face.that she was frightened,thos she had done her best not2show it,seemed more than clear." he deduces all this while she's asleep.
"she looked younged&innocent&more enticing then any woman he had ever seen." dont even believe stuff like this nemore.&its sumtimes more believable if the guy duznt find her the most beautiful&ends up likin her.
"had a temper as fiery as her hair." when exactly has she unleashed this "fiery temper?"
instead of wakin up sumtime durin the nite &escapin or tying the guy up or sumthin,she sleeps.
shes about2 cry& hes bothered &she looks vulnreable &his chest tightens.i mean, come on w/this crap.
there again,for all he knows,hes havin these feelings about a whore.which i wud absolutely hate!
says she'd nvr 4get his kiss.wth.
he took the letter opener from her &threw it across the room&then takes it when he leaves.& d.a. grace looks4 it on the desk.
grace acts sooo old&proper.
why would the author want the guy character 2act like this &treat her girl character in such a deporable way?does ne1 find this romantic?
she keeps thinkin ethan for lil things &sayin he's generous 2 send food &a tub.he's kidnapped u&wants u2 have sex w/him.&ur seriously makin a comment of his generosity?man this girl is DUMB.i would treat his gestures with derision &sarcasm.
she sed the comb set was prob.for a paramour of his.&she dint even find nething wrong w/it.this shud show how dumb this girl is.&it was nvr addressed with ethan n the bk.
"demand he take her on deck." um,why dont u just walk up there?she mentions its becuz of the crew,but i didnt realize they were so dangerous.
&i didnt know guys wore night rails.ethan could have gotten her trunk off the ship.
&the water was rainwater so how was it heated up4 her bath?
i didnt know a limp became more pronounced when u get upset.
i just love comments like this-"w/a skill that told her he was no stranger2 the feminine wardrobe." he makes comments about her being a whore&that shes ben naked n front of guys &instead of correcting him as ne1 w/ sense would have,she blushes.her big stand is a blush.she's so unlikeable! &no gently bred lady wud get n2 a tub w/a guy there.&the whole keepin silent thing so he knows less about u is stupid.wut advantage wud u have that he duznt know u arent a slut? romance bks can be so irritating.a lil miscommunication ruins everything.
lavendar soap 4girl on his ship.great.
he hates her&yet hes washin her&complimenting her hair.boy u sure show ur hated n strange ways.
how wud an innocent know wut happens2 guys wen they get aroused?
"she kept him constantly off balance." how exactly has she dun that?
having ethan say a guy wasn't bad-lookin prob.wasn't a wise choice.
readin it the 2nd time just bumped it down2 1 star.
he leaves u n the cabin all day.u ask2 go out &he says no but he'll let u take a stroll once a day& u feel u shud be "happy for the concession." WTH! no character has acted like this b4.most ppl wud get extremely sarcastic @this point.but grace is thankful4 sum1 who's not only kidnapped her, thinks shes a whore&plans2 sleep w/her continuously but keeps her confined.&shes thankful.
she knows the captain will be leaving ship &duznt plan on escaping.she hopes that the ship will make more stops where the captain might let her off ship.her idiocy knows no bounds.
ethan-king of repitition-"he couldnt remember wantin a woman so badly." why dont i believe u?
"if only he could harness that passion.put it2 a far more pleasant use." remembered "her luscious curves." i hate when authors make things so phsyical.i mean, horndog!
she actually has2 remind herself not2 be greatful&a sentence l8r she thanks him4the ugly whores clothes.stop thankin him!i swear he cud push her off the ship/make her walk the plank&she'd thank him.
&she suddenly tells that her adopted dad treated her bad.
repitition-mentions her dad writin letters wantin2 know her.
he calls her outspoken.how exactly has she ben outspoken?
"he saw himself as a bit of a ladys man,which she found faintly amusing." why is that amusing?
huggin her after they almost drowned was so out of character.he duznt even like her that much.
stop callin him pirate!he sed he wasnt 1.
am i the only 1 not buying n2 ethans fastpaced unrealistic feelings. "she is mine."
grace is "reckless." um..ok. & unafraid of danger.sure..
cant stand ppl who talk of cheatin as if its ok.lady humphrey actually says that harmon liked graces pluck.that his kids were dull.if grace isnt dull,who is?! &it as like well grace may be his by-blow but@least she isnt "dull" like his kids.ugh i dont rlly like readin about illegitimate kids.i just dont agree w/cheatin.
usually n a bk wen the girl escapes its a good moment but n here the way they saw her swimmin was stupid.&she just gives up.
no innocent wud so readily give up her innocence.she doesnt even know ethan.&the whole no mad wud offer4a woman of questionable virture didnt fit this situation becuz only a few ppl knew of her voyage on the ship.sayin u'd nvr have a husband was so dramatic &wrong.
"at any rate" and "just let yourself go" seems pretty modern.
i just luv when authors have innocents act like sluts.
he says it must have ben a while since she'd been w/jeffries &instead of goin wth r u talkin about? she gets embarrassed&then calmly states that she wasnt his mistress.sum1 accused of bein their dad mistress wudnt act like that.they'd be wth!
&now that he knows shes jeffries daughter everytime he looks@her he'll pic.his dead crew.&u didnt feel that way wen u thought she was his mistress!?
her dad is supposed 2be a secret so ethan just tells his 1st mate.
"offered him the pleasure of her sweetly luscious body." gag.
there shud be a word count on how many times she thanks ethan.
her home life is vague.idk how she found her dads letters.
no romance between the characters.idt ethans capable of feelin genuine emotions.
of course she thanks him4 the necklace,which he shud have returned neway.&then she kisses him.if ur tryin2make a big stand,ur failing miserably.ur supposed2 be the 1who walks away 1st.
why wud aunt matilda think ethan had demanded nething4 her safe return?
he tells cord grace is jeffries daughter.cord already knew,but ethan dint know that.
he'd think of grace&her "lucsious body" but then he'd think of his crew,dead,beaten, tortured.blah blah blah.&then he'd hate her.used2 feel sympathy 4him,now im annoyed.
&the whole deep kiss,we 4got where we were n the church is so overdone.ive read it a million times.why wud they spend their weddin nite @her aunts friends house?! she tells us she knows the vicar &tweed's house w/o mentioning it2 us b4.
she looked "frayed." wth.
im just not buyin ethans feelins.hes overcome w/lust all the time.its annoying!&i think he only feels lust4her.i hate ppl that get so overcome w/desire that they 4get2 be upset.&shes all hes my husband.i have2 do wut he wants.after he ignores her he has the gall2 say "do u intend 2deny me my husbandly rites?" &grace is stupid enuff2 say "i wont deny u." idk who i hate more.&grace teases him after he plans on leavin her n the country.
"had his fill.hardly.he was leavin becuz he cudnt get enuff of her." who bought that?
i like that she sed they cud both seek pleasure outside their marriage cuz it sounded like sumthin a normal character wud say.idk why ethan got so upset cuz he duznt rlly like her.
"fly" as in his zipper is modern!
we no ethan only married her becuz of the baby,he even sed so himself, so harriet sayin "if he hadnt wished2 marry u there is nothin on this earth that cud have moved him2 do so" was jus wrong.
not sure how tory1st received the pearls.¬ the descendant of lady ariana.how wud mabina no that fallon 1st desired ariana&then came2 luv her?
he admits 2not bein pleased shes there.
'"r u certain u shud be travelin n ur condition?"he asked,only a lil concerned,considering her robust constitution.' why,how sweet.
she plans2 teach freddiðan shows up&she gets submissive. stop cowering,get a backbone.
evven after grace sed no women&that if he cheated so wud she he plans2 get a mistress.idc if he dint find the idea appealing.the fact that he even planned it makes him a bastard n my eyes.
the comments from both of them about her becomin fat&ungainly r ridiculous.&wut guy wud rlly find his pregnant wife repugnant.
every1 is "tall &imposing." ethans chest is always "tightening."
"prayed she hadnt driven him n2the arms of another woman." u dont drive ur man thre.
"4 the 1st time he was sincerely glad he had married grace." this is towards the end of the bk.&only 2protect her from law.
he dismisses her&shes like makin luv was wonderful.&then flees the room.so pathetic.
i hate how he pretends they have a better relationship than they do n public.callin her "my love."
"high spirited.dun reckless things." shes not high spirited &wut truly reckless things has she dun?
"it made him phsyically ill2think how badly he wanted2 stay home w/grace." hmm,insert major doubt. if this bk was a movie,ppl wud be throwin tomatoes @the screen everytime he talked.
"wud be better if his cousin worried about grace."wut did that mean?
why shud she worry about encouraging martin wen shes married.he shud give up.
how wud bright blue baby eyes turn n2 golden brown?
things r thrown out that arent mentioned b4hand.like she had visited her aunts friends house.or that her aunt had ben ill.
the vengeance crap is wearin me out.im so sick of his conflicting feelings.he keeps bouncin around-finally luvs her then says but she was his enemies daughter.&then says it again after he returns home from spain.
"bogus" modern!
how can a baby have refined features?!
she had the baby look completely like ethan.
he nvr tried2 put the pas tbehind him.
they're always "less certain than ever" about the future.
grace asks ethan if he took the baby2 spite her.like ethan wut do that.
grace kept sayin perhaps when this happened,ethan wud love her/act like a real family-nvr happened.
innapropriate moments she'd be like "he sed he luved her.she hoped it was true."
she actually gives the guy the pearls w/o gettin her baby 1st.
mental image of her weildin a broom was a stupid1.
"keyed up." modern? yeah.
he was so hardcore revenge that the way he finally let it go was unrealistic.&hes like i wanna meet ur dad &instead of bein a lil skeptic shes ecstatic.&only gets wary l8r.
he wants her 2trust him but who cud?!
1of those bks where they have limited time2 do sumthin &no1 rlly duz nething. they had4 days 2clear her dads name ðan&grace rlly dint do nething.
it was a lil 2 convenient that her dad wasn't a traitor.
the book did get better towards the end.&i mean the very end.like the last couple of chapters.&the epilogue.
im not sure i like where the series is goin tho.the girl rafe is engaged2 didn't actually betray him but rafe is now engaged.&then shes goin2 america 2get married.i mean wth!
i didn't like how in the end,they said rafe's fiance was too shy and timid for him.that's insulting to shy&timid ppl.&i dont like how he's engaged &he's gotta break it off cause his lost love is back. that's cruel to his fiance.
August 10, 2021
3,5 - Bu kitabın konusu neydi ya diye elime alıp tekrar okumuş bulundum. Güzel, akıcı ama böyle vay be etkisi yapmıyor.
February 8, 2022
He pasado por esta novela sin pena ni gloria. Totalmente prescindible.
May 20, 2023
Wow!
Ethan stole her from a ship because he thought her father was the traitor that caused his ship capture, the killing of his crew and his capture and imprisonment and torture by the French . Grace didn't know her father growing up until she found the letters hidden by her mother. She believed him innocent and found a way to help him escape. If it takes forever,
Ethan is going to force her to reveal the hiding place of her father. Kat Martin has written a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a tissue to catch your tears - both of heartbreak and joy.
Ethan stole her from a ship because he thought her father was the traitor that caused his ship capture, the killing of his crew and his capture and imprisonment and torture by the French . Grace didn't know her father growing up until she found the letters hidden by her mother. She believed him innocent and found a way to help him escape. If it takes forever,
Ethan is going to force her to reveal the hiding place of her father. Kat Martin has written a page turner that will keep you on the edge of your seat with a tissue to catch your tears - both of heartbreak and joy.
July 3, 2015
I had to go back and skim over the first one just to make sure I didnt miss anything that might intertwine with this book, since I had read it a while back.
I didnt need to do it, because this books stands on it's own other than common friends. I however did enjoy LOL at most scenes I skimmed over and I think it put me in the perfect mood to read this one. I HAD forgotten about Ethan and how much i was looking forward to his story.
This book was yet another GREAT novel by Kat Martin. I dont think Ive read one yet I havent enjoyed thoroughly! I look forward to rafe's story this evening!
I didnt need to do it, because this books stands on it's own other than common friends. I however did enjoy LOL at most scenes I skimmed over and I think it put me in the perfect mood to read this one. I HAD forgotten about Ethan and how much i was looking forward to his story.
This book was yet another GREAT novel by Kat Martin. I dont think Ive read one yet I havent enjoyed thoroughly! I look forward to rafe's story this evening!
March 3, 2020
I can’t believe this book was written as late as 2005. Reading it in 2020, I can say that it has NOT aged well, and it’s only been 15 years! Why is Ethan so rapey? He skeeved me out so much and I found myself cringing and fearing for her safety whenever he and Grace were in the same room (which, obviously, was a lot). These are not the thoughts I wanted to have while reading what I thought would be a fun historical romance!
June 10, 2017
Mejor que el primero está. Pero bueno... la autora tiene sagas mejores. Le pongo un 3 por Ethan
February 6, 2025
The Devil's Necklace by Kat Martin
.
Cover (stepback): 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 (+kissing, many scenes that are too brief to count as a full scene, scenes mentioned but not on page)
Ending: HEA
.
Series or Stand Alone: Book two of the necklace triology. Could be read as a 7
.
England, Regency (18-teens)
Revenge Driver Privateer
Woman in Crossfire
Forced Proximity
Road Trip-ish
Schooner Ship
Opposites Attrach
Captor/Captive
Mild OM Issues
Revenge Plot
Scarred Hero
Forbidden Love-ish
Marriage in Jeopardy
Marriage by Ruination
.
It's a soap opera.
Unlikable, annoying hero and heroine. Again, there is too much drama for one book. It was entertaining enough but isn't going to land on my recommended list.
.
Content Warning (spoilers likely):
.
.
.
.
.
Abduction
De*th- off page and on
Mention of a su*cide
Pregnancy- multiple
Abduction of baby
Physical v*lence
Firearms
.
Cover (stepback): 4/5
Story: 3.5/5
Steam: 🔥 🔥 (+kissing, many scenes that are too brief to count as a full scene, scenes mentioned but not on page)
Ending: HEA
.
Series or Stand Alone: Book two of the necklace triology. Could be read as a 7
.
England, Regency (18-teens)
Revenge Driver Privateer
Woman in Crossfire
Forced Proximity
Road Trip-ish
Schooner Ship
Opposites Attrach
Captor/Captive
Mild OM Issues
Revenge Plot
Scarred Hero
Forbidden Love-ish
Marriage in Jeopardy
Marriage by Ruination
.
It's a soap opera.
Unlikable, annoying hero and heroine. Again, there is too much drama for one book. It was entertaining enough but isn't going to land on my recommended list.
.
Content Warning (spoilers likely):
.
.
.
.
.
Abduction
De*th- off page and on
Mention of a su*cide
Pregnancy- multiple
Abduction of baby
Physical v*lence
Firearms
May 12, 2022
#historicalromancereadathon2022
September 8, 2024
Got this book for free. It was silly and something I would never pick for myself but entertaining regardless how cheesy it was.
April 22, 2011
I was a bit disappointed in this book, not because of the story line but with the writing. What was there was fine, but I kept getting the feeling that a lot of the writing was missing, as if someone arbitrarily went through and deleted whole paragraphs. It just didn't flow smoothly after the first half. I felt like I was walking gracefully down a path only to bump unexpectedly into a wall and rebound, after which I would continue walking. Unfortunately it would happen again and again until I was exhausted. The gaps in the writing disrupted my concentration to the point that I kept going back to see if I had missed something, but it just wasn't there. On the positive side, I was happy that Jonas McPhee did a better job of investigation in this book. He was hardly thorough in the first book, but it seems his investigations improve with each book.
June 2, 2014
Danger and intrigue on the high seas intertwined with a dynamic love story. What's not to like? Two very strong willed people are pitted against each other, a man driven by his past and a woman who represents everything he abhors. It seems that only tragedy can come from their association and yet, Ethan and Grace may very well surprise you.
As the truth begins to surface, so does a man determined to maintain his secret, one which sent a ship full of sailors to their deaths. Grace's father may very well hold the key - if only he wasn't wanted for treason!
Reading this novel made me yearn to discover the stories of the other individuals. I hope there is a novel out there for Rafe. That would be most intriguing, indeed.
As the truth begins to surface, so does a man determined to maintain his secret, one which sent a ship full of sailors to their deaths. Grace's father may very well hold the key - if only he wasn't wanted for treason!
Reading this novel made me yearn to discover the stories of the other individuals. I hope there is a novel out there for Rafe. That would be most intriguing, indeed.
August 6, 2016
This book was so terrible I didn't finish it.
March 13, 2015
İlk hikayeden daha çok sevdim..
April 3, 2021
Es mi libro favorito de la serie el collar de la novia. Me enamoré mucho de Ethan y Grace, y hacen una pareja muy muy hermosa ❤️
May 27, 2022
Gosh, this book dragged. It was so boring from mid-way through. Lacked energy...just like the protagonists.
January 11, 2018
4,8 von 5 Sternen
Inhalt:
Ethan Sharpe hat sich geschworen, den Mann, der für den Tod seiner Männer verantwortlich ist, an den Galgen zu bringen. Alles spricht dafür, dass es sich dabei um den Viscount Fortsythe handelt, der mit den Franzosen eine Handel mit geheimen Informationen getrieben und somit Ethans Schiff verraten hat. Doch als dieser bereits verurteilt auf seine Hinrichtung wartet, wird ihm zur Flucht verholfen. Laut Ethans Recherchen von Grace Chastain, die er für die Mätresse des Viscount hält. Doch Grace ist die uneheliche Tochter des Mannes und keine skrupellose Frau. Dies erkennt Ethan als zu spät und verliert schon bald sein Herz an sie. Doch wird die Liebe eine Chance haben so lange Ethan von seinen Racheplänen so zerfressen wird?
Wie kam das Buch zu mir
Ich fand bereits den ersten Teil der Perlentrilogie „Die Perlen des Schicksals“ toll. Dort ging es um Cord und Victoria, die auch in diesem Buch wieder vorkommen. Victoria hatte ihre Perlenkette an Grace weitergegeben in der Hoffnung, dass diese nun auch ihr Glück bringen würde. Ich habe das Buch für 2,09 Euro bei ReBuy erstanden.
Aufmachung/Qualität
Das Cover ist leider eines dieser alten Nackenbeißer-Cover und wirkt noch dazu sehr künstlich bzw. digital bearbeitet. Der Einband ist aber schön flexibel, so dass sich das Buch leicht lesen lässt und keine Knicke im Buchrücken entstehen.
Meinung:
Dies ist zwar der zweite Teil der Perlentrilogie, kann aber auch ohne den ersten Teil zu kennen, gelesen werden. Im ersten Teil hat Victoria ihr Glück gefunden und hat ihre sagenumwobene Perlenkette an ihre Freundin Grace weitergegeben. Grace ist der weibliche Hauptcharakter in diesem Buch. Auch den männlichen Hauptcharakter kennt man bereits aus dem ersten Teil, da es sich um Ethan Sharpe handelt, der im ersten Teil von seinen Freunden aus der französischen Gefangenschaft befreit wurde. Es gibt genügend Rückblenden, um sie Zusammenhänge auch ohne den Vorgängerband zu erfassen.
Die Grundidee ist wie so oft bei Kat Martin gut durchdacht. Dieses Mal geht es um einen Mann, der sich schuldig an dem Tod seiner Mannschaft fühlt und lange Zeit in einem französischen Gefängnis misshandelt wurde. Seine Freunde haben ihn befreit doch er ist nicht mehr der selbe Mensch wie zuvor. Er will Rache an dem Mann üben, den er für den Verrat seiner Mannschaft und somit deren Tod verantwortlich macht – den Viscount Fortsythe. Grace ist eine junge Frau, die eine schwere Kindheit hinter sich hat und erst vor kurzem erfahren hat warum der Mann, den sie für ihren Vater hielt, sie so verachtet. Sie ist das Kind eines anderen – des Viscount Fortsythe. Außerdem erfährt Grace, das sie ihrem leiblicher Vater nicht egal ist. Doch bevor sie ihn richtig kennen lernen kann, wird er des Hochverrats bezichtigt und verurteilt, obwohl er seine Unschuld beteuert. Also verhilft sie ihm zur Flucht und flieht dann selbst mit einem Schiff zu einer Verwandten. Doch Ethan erfährt davon und kidnappt sie vom Schiff. Das ist der Beginn des Romans und im Laufe der Zeit wird die Handlung durch die schwierige Liebe der beiden Charakter, durch Ethans ständigem Kampf sich zwischen Liebe und Rache zu entscheiden und der Flucht des Viscounts in Gange gehalten.
Der Schreibstil ist gewohnt locker und leicht. Stellenweise werden Szenen ausgeschmückt, aber nicht zu sehr. Für einen hist. Liebesroman liest sich das ganze sehr spannend und unterhaltsam. Lediglich die erotischen Szenen sind etwas kitschig gehalten.
Für einen historischen Liebesroman ist das Buch recht spannend. Vor allem das letzte Drittel ist dann richtig mitreißend, aber das ist es fast immer bei Kat Martin. Die ersten zwei Drittel konzentrieren sich auf die Entwicklung der schwierigen Liebesgeschichte und dann im letzten Drittel packt sie die Action aus. Ich konnte das Buch nur schwer aus der Hand legen.
Die Emotionen konnten mich überzeugen. Ethan ist ein sehr schwieriger Charakter durch seine schrecklichen Erlebnisse in Gefangenschaft und durch seinen Schuldgefühle. Man kann nachvollziehen in was für einer Zwickmühle er sich befand als er sich in die Tochter des Mannes verliebte, den er am meisten hasste. Seine inneren Konflikte wurden sehr gut vermittelt. Grace verliebt sich in Ethan obwohl sie weiß, dass er ihren Vater am Galgen sehen möchte. Ihre Zweifel, ob Ethan jemals die Schatten seiner Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen und ihre Liebe aus vollem Herzen erwidern kann, wirken sehr realistisch. Auch die Gefühle der Angst um Menschen, die man liebt als auch die Freundschaften, die in diesem Buch entstehen oder bereits vertieft sind, wirkten überzeugend. Die Männerfreundschaft zwischen Cord (Hauptcharakter im ersten Teil), Rafe und Ethan zieht sich über die drei Bände der Reihe hin und wirkt sehr authentisch. Jeder der Männer hat einen ganz eigenen Charakter und agiert trotzdem der Zeit entsprechend.
Die Charaktere habe ich ja bereits in den Punkten zuvor angeschnitten. Sie sind alle durchweg überzeugend und meist sympathisch. Dies gilt sowohl für die Haupt- als auch die Nebencharaktere. Keiner gleicht dem anderen und man möchte gern mehr von jedem einzelnen erfahren. Außerdem agieren alle der Zeitepoche entsprechend, aber wirken trotzdem individuell.
Die Erotik spielt wie schon im ersten Band eine sehr entscheidende Rolle. Obwohl mir die erotischen Szenen wirklich gut gefielen, muss ich doch gestehen, dass sie teilweise ziemlich kitschig geschrieben wurden. Mich persönlich schreckt das nicht ab, aber ich wollte es erwähnt haben. Auch wenn die Anziehungskraft zwischen Ethan und Grace wirklich gut herüberkommt, rutschte ihre Begierde für einander an einigen Stellen doch fast ins lächerliche. Wenn beide dann so völlig übermannt von ihren Gefühlen waren, Ethan beim bloßen Anblick Graces kaum noch zu zügeln war und Grace dahinschmolz sobald er sie anzüglich betrachtet, wirkte es schon etwas stark übertrieben. Wer also lieber keusche und zurückhaltende Liebesromane liest, sollte die Finger davon lassen.
Die Liebesgeschichte konnte mich trotz der oben genannten Mängel bei der Erotik voll überzeugen. Das ständige Hin und Her durch Ethan schwierigen Charakter war zwar stellenweise nervenaufreibend, aber wirkte durchaus realistisch. Dies wurde Gott sei Dank durch die liebenswerte aber trotzdem willensstarke Grace ausgeglichen. Wo man sich bei Ethan am Anfang oft fragte, ob es nicht doch einfach nur körperliche Anziehung sei, so war man bei Grace voll und ganz überzeugt, dass sie ihn innig liebte. Am Ende des Buches haben mich dann beide Protagonisten von ihrer Liebe überzeugt.
Grundidee 5/5
Schreibstil 4,5/5
Spannung 4,5/5
Emotionen 4,5/5
Charaktere 5/5
Erotik 4,5/5
Liebesgeschichte 4,5/5
Lesergruppe:
Dieses Buch ist etwas für Leser, die einen gut durchdachten historischen Liebesroman zu schätzen wissen. Bis auf die unrealistische sexuelle Anziehungskraft zwischen den beiden Charakteren, wirkt hier alles der Zeit entsprechend und realistisch.
Fazit:
4,8 von 5 Sternen
Die ist ein Liebesroman, der auch ohne viel geschichtlichem Hintergrund, sehr spannend und interessant daherkommt. Die Spannung wird hier durch die Aufdeckung eines Verbrechens und durch eine aus schwierigen Vorgeschichten entstehende Liebesgeschichte aufrecht erhalten. Diese Liebesgeschichte wirkt realistisch mit Ausnahme der etwas übertriebenen sexuellen Anziehungskraft zwischen den beiden Charakteren. Der absolute Vorteil der Autorin und damit der Punkt, der sie aus der Masse der hist. Liebesromanverfasserinnen heraushebt, ist ihr Talent ihre Handlungsstränge und Spannungsmomente genau richtig zu timen und ihren Charakteren wirklich Leben einzuhauchen.
Reihe:
Die Perlen des Schicksals
Perlen für eine Mätresse
Perlen für die Herzogin
http://78sunny.blogspot.dk/2013/01/re...
Inhalt:
Ethan Sharpe hat sich geschworen, den Mann, der für den Tod seiner Männer verantwortlich ist, an den Galgen zu bringen. Alles spricht dafür, dass es sich dabei um den Viscount Fortsythe handelt, der mit den Franzosen eine Handel mit geheimen Informationen getrieben und somit Ethans Schiff verraten hat. Doch als dieser bereits verurteilt auf seine Hinrichtung wartet, wird ihm zur Flucht verholfen. Laut Ethans Recherchen von Grace Chastain, die er für die Mätresse des Viscount hält. Doch Grace ist die uneheliche Tochter des Mannes und keine skrupellose Frau. Dies erkennt Ethan als zu spät und verliert schon bald sein Herz an sie. Doch wird die Liebe eine Chance haben so lange Ethan von seinen Racheplänen so zerfressen wird?
Wie kam das Buch zu mir
Ich fand bereits den ersten Teil der Perlentrilogie „Die Perlen des Schicksals“ toll. Dort ging es um Cord und Victoria, die auch in diesem Buch wieder vorkommen. Victoria hatte ihre Perlenkette an Grace weitergegeben in der Hoffnung, dass diese nun auch ihr Glück bringen würde. Ich habe das Buch für 2,09 Euro bei ReBuy erstanden.
Aufmachung/Qualität
Das Cover ist leider eines dieser alten Nackenbeißer-Cover und wirkt noch dazu sehr künstlich bzw. digital bearbeitet. Der Einband ist aber schön flexibel, so dass sich das Buch leicht lesen lässt und keine Knicke im Buchrücken entstehen.
Meinung:
Dies ist zwar der zweite Teil der Perlentrilogie, kann aber auch ohne den ersten Teil zu kennen, gelesen werden. Im ersten Teil hat Victoria ihr Glück gefunden und hat ihre sagenumwobene Perlenkette an ihre Freundin Grace weitergegeben. Grace ist der weibliche Hauptcharakter in diesem Buch. Auch den männlichen Hauptcharakter kennt man bereits aus dem ersten Teil, da es sich um Ethan Sharpe handelt, der im ersten Teil von seinen Freunden aus der französischen Gefangenschaft befreit wurde. Es gibt genügend Rückblenden, um sie Zusammenhänge auch ohne den Vorgängerband zu erfassen.
Die Grundidee ist wie so oft bei Kat Martin gut durchdacht. Dieses Mal geht es um einen Mann, der sich schuldig an dem Tod seiner Mannschaft fühlt und lange Zeit in einem französischen Gefängnis misshandelt wurde. Seine Freunde haben ihn befreit doch er ist nicht mehr der selbe Mensch wie zuvor. Er will Rache an dem Mann üben, den er für den Verrat seiner Mannschaft und somit deren Tod verantwortlich macht – den Viscount Fortsythe. Grace ist eine junge Frau, die eine schwere Kindheit hinter sich hat und erst vor kurzem erfahren hat warum der Mann, den sie für ihren Vater hielt, sie so verachtet. Sie ist das Kind eines anderen – des Viscount Fortsythe. Außerdem erfährt Grace, das sie ihrem leiblicher Vater nicht egal ist. Doch bevor sie ihn richtig kennen lernen kann, wird er des Hochverrats bezichtigt und verurteilt, obwohl er seine Unschuld beteuert. Also verhilft sie ihm zur Flucht und flieht dann selbst mit einem Schiff zu einer Verwandten. Doch Ethan erfährt davon und kidnappt sie vom Schiff. Das ist der Beginn des Romans und im Laufe der Zeit wird die Handlung durch die schwierige Liebe der beiden Charakter, durch Ethans ständigem Kampf sich zwischen Liebe und Rache zu entscheiden und der Flucht des Viscounts in Gange gehalten.
Der Schreibstil ist gewohnt locker und leicht. Stellenweise werden Szenen ausgeschmückt, aber nicht zu sehr. Für einen hist. Liebesroman liest sich das ganze sehr spannend und unterhaltsam. Lediglich die erotischen Szenen sind etwas kitschig gehalten.
Für einen historischen Liebesroman ist das Buch recht spannend. Vor allem das letzte Drittel ist dann richtig mitreißend, aber das ist es fast immer bei Kat Martin. Die ersten zwei Drittel konzentrieren sich auf die Entwicklung der schwierigen Liebesgeschichte und dann im letzten Drittel packt sie die Action aus. Ich konnte das Buch nur schwer aus der Hand legen.
Die Emotionen konnten mich überzeugen. Ethan ist ein sehr schwieriger Charakter durch seine schrecklichen Erlebnisse in Gefangenschaft und durch seinen Schuldgefühle. Man kann nachvollziehen in was für einer Zwickmühle er sich befand als er sich in die Tochter des Mannes verliebte, den er am meisten hasste. Seine inneren Konflikte wurden sehr gut vermittelt. Grace verliebt sich in Ethan obwohl sie weiß, dass er ihren Vater am Galgen sehen möchte. Ihre Zweifel, ob Ethan jemals die Schatten seiner Vergangenheit hinter sich lassen und ihre Liebe aus vollem Herzen erwidern kann, wirken sehr realistisch. Auch die Gefühle der Angst um Menschen, die man liebt als auch die Freundschaften, die in diesem Buch entstehen oder bereits vertieft sind, wirkten überzeugend. Die Männerfreundschaft zwischen Cord (Hauptcharakter im ersten Teil), Rafe und Ethan zieht sich über die drei Bände der Reihe hin und wirkt sehr authentisch. Jeder der Männer hat einen ganz eigenen Charakter und agiert trotzdem der Zeit entsprechend.
Die Charaktere habe ich ja bereits in den Punkten zuvor angeschnitten. Sie sind alle durchweg überzeugend und meist sympathisch. Dies gilt sowohl für die Haupt- als auch die Nebencharaktere. Keiner gleicht dem anderen und man möchte gern mehr von jedem einzelnen erfahren. Außerdem agieren alle der Zeitepoche entsprechend, aber wirken trotzdem individuell.
Die Erotik spielt wie schon im ersten Band eine sehr entscheidende Rolle. Obwohl mir die erotischen Szenen wirklich gut gefielen, muss ich doch gestehen, dass sie teilweise ziemlich kitschig geschrieben wurden. Mich persönlich schreckt das nicht ab, aber ich wollte es erwähnt haben. Auch wenn die Anziehungskraft zwischen Ethan und Grace wirklich gut herüberkommt, rutschte ihre Begierde für einander an einigen Stellen doch fast ins lächerliche. Wenn beide dann so völlig übermannt von ihren Gefühlen waren, Ethan beim bloßen Anblick Graces kaum noch zu zügeln war und Grace dahinschmolz sobald er sie anzüglich betrachtet, wirkte es schon etwas stark übertrieben. Wer also lieber keusche und zurückhaltende Liebesromane liest, sollte die Finger davon lassen.
Die Liebesgeschichte konnte mich trotz der oben genannten Mängel bei der Erotik voll überzeugen. Das ständige Hin und Her durch Ethan schwierigen Charakter war zwar stellenweise nervenaufreibend, aber wirkte durchaus realistisch. Dies wurde Gott sei Dank durch die liebenswerte aber trotzdem willensstarke Grace ausgeglichen. Wo man sich bei Ethan am Anfang oft fragte, ob es nicht doch einfach nur körperliche Anziehung sei, so war man bei Grace voll und ganz überzeugt, dass sie ihn innig liebte. Am Ende des Buches haben mich dann beide Protagonisten von ihrer Liebe überzeugt.
Grundidee 5/5
Schreibstil 4,5/5
Spannung 4,5/5
Emotionen 4,5/5
Charaktere 5/5
Erotik 4,5/5
Liebesgeschichte 4,5/5
Lesergruppe:
Dieses Buch ist etwas für Leser, die einen gut durchdachten historischen Liebesroman zu schätzen wissen. Bis auf die unrealistische sexuelle Anziehungskraft zwischen den beiden Charakteren, wirkt hier alles der Zeit entsprechend und realistisch.
Fazit:
4,8 von 5 Sternen
Die ist ein Liebesroman, der auch ohne viel geschichtlichem Hintergrund, sehr spannend und interessant daherkommt. Die Spannung wird hier durch die Aufdeckung eines Verbrechens und durch eine aus schwierigen Vorgeschichten entstehende Liebesgeschichte aufrecht erhalten. Diese Liebesgeschichte wirkt realistisch mit Ausnahme der etwas übertriebenen sexuellen Anziehungskraft zwischen den beiden Charakteren. Der absolute Vorteil der Autorin und damit der Punkt, der sie aus der Masse der hist. Liebesromanverfasserinnen heraushebt, ist ihr Talent ihre Handlungsstränge und Spannungsmomente genau richtig zu timen und ihren Charakteren wirklich Leben einzuhauchen.
Reihe:
Die Perlen des Schicksals
Perlen für eine Mätresse
Perlen für die Herzogin
http://78sunny.blogspot.dk/2013/01/re...
November 19, 2025
⭐⭐✨ (2.5/5)
This book aged me😮💨. Like, I could have learned a new language in the time it took to get through this thing.
Ethan Sharpe is a privateer slash marquess (because apparently one sexy occupation isnt enough) who kidnaps Grace Chastain thinking shes his enemys mistress. Classic revenge plot, right? Except Ethan spends approximately 300 pages or so going "but shes my enemys daughter" like a broken record player, and I just wanted to reach through the pages and shake him. Get. Over. It. Already.
Grace? Oh, Grace. Boring from page one. The girl gets kidnapped and just... accepts it. No fight, no proper sass, just a lot of blushing and thanking her captor for basic human decency. She thanks him for food. For clothes. For literally everything. Girl, hes KIDNAPPED you. The bar is in hell and somehow shes still grateful. Where's the fire everyone keeps claiming she has?
The romance felt about as genuine as my interest in ever reading this again. Ethan supposedly lusts after Grace constantly (horndog vibes, honestly), but I never bought that he actually loved her. The whole thing reads like he just wanted to sleep with the "enemys whore" until he randomly decides hes in love at the very end. Romantic? Not even close.
What I did like: The last couple chapters were decent. The epilogue was fine. That's about it.
What made me want to scream: Everything else. The repetitive vengeance obsession. Grace's doormat personality. The forced marriage. The baby kidnapping plot (because why not throw in EVERYTHING). The fact that their relationship barely improved throughout the entire book, yet were supposed to believe in their happy ending.
Final verdict?? Miss Martin legit crammed every historical romance trope into this book, but unlike other authors who do it well, this fell completely flat. It was exhausting to read, if Im being honest.
This book aged me😮💨. Like, I could have learned a new language in the time it took to get through this thing.
Ethan Sharpe is a privateer slash marquess (because apparently one sexy occupation isnt enough) who kidnaps Grace Chastain thinking shes his enemys mistress. Classic revenge plot, right? Except Ethan spends approximately 300 pages or so going "but shes my enemys daughter" like a broken record player, and I just wanted to reach through the pages and shake him. Get. Over. It. Already.
Grace? Oh, Grace. Boring from page one. The girl gets kidnapped and just... accepts it. No fight, no proper sass, just a lot of blushing and thanking her captor for basic human decency. She thanks him for food. For clothes. For literally everything. Girl, hes KIDNAPPED you. The bar is in hell and somehow shes still grateful. Where's the fire everyone keeps claiming she has?
The romance felt about as genuine as my interest in ever reading this again. Ethan supposedly lusts after Grace constantly (horndog vibes, honestly), but I never bought that he actually loved her. The whole thing reads like he just wanted to sleep with the "enemys whore" until he randomly decides hes in love at the very end. Romantic? Not even close.
What I did like: The last couple chapters were decent. The epilogue was fine. That's about it.
What made me want to scream: Everything else. The repetitive vengeance obsession. Grace's doormat personality. The forced marriage. The baby kidnapping plot (because why not throw in EVERYTHING). The fact that their relationship barely improved throughout the entire book, yet were supposed to believe in their happy ending.
Final verdict?? Miss Martin legit crammed every historical romance trope into this book, but unlike other authors who do it well, this fell completely flat. It was exhausting to read, if Im being honest.
August 10, 2017
Victoria Temple Whiting’s best friend Grace Chastain is now in possession of the Bride’s Necklace. The Bride’s Necklace, a 13th century creation, can be either a boon to the pure of heart or a curse for evil ones. Grace has engineered the escape of her birth father from prison saving him from execution as a traitor. She and her necklace are heading to northern England to lay low and stay with her biological grandmother until the search for Viscount Forsythe subsides.
On the voyage north, Grace’s ship is stopped by Captain Ethan Sharpe, betrayed and imprisoned by the information given to the French and most of his crew killed. His information implicates Grace. He hopes she will lead him to Viscount Forsythe (and believes she was Forsythe’s mistress.) He forcibly removes her, and we are off to the races.
The Devil’s Necklace has love, attraction, traitors, suspense, and drama. Ethan loves Grace’s bravery and determination, but can’t forget the lives her father’s treachery cost. Grace believes her father is innocent and is conflicted when she helps him behind Ethan’s back. There are babies and kidnapping; betrayal and loyalty. The initial plotting is unconvincing, but the characters are substantial and the relationships among friends are strong.
The Devil’s Necklace will appeal to most fans of historical romance. The Handmaiden’s Necklace completes the trilogy. Recommended.
Readalikes:
Celeste Bradley’s Liar’s Club; Sophie Jordan’s Forgotten Princesses; Cecilia Grant’s Blackshear family romances; Gaelen Foley’s Inferno Club; Elizabeth Essex’s Reckless Brides novels; Amanda Quick; Mary Balogh; Nicole Jordan.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Good w/in genre stereotypes; likeable
Story: Character-driven; intricately plotted
Language: Engaging; richly detailed
Tone: Steamy; strong sense of time and place; suspenseful
Frame: London; 1805
On the voyage north, Grace’s ship is stopped by Captain Ethan Sharpe, betrayed and imprisoned by the information given to the French and most of his crew killed. His information implicates Grace. He hopes she will lead him to Viscount Forsythe (and believes she was Forsythe’s mistress.) He forcibly removes her, and we are off to the races.
The Devil’s Necklace has love, attraction, traitors, suspense, and drama. Ethan loves Grace’s bravery and determination, but can’t forget the lives her father’s treachery cost. Grace believes her father is innocent and is conflicted when she helps him behind Ethan’s back. There are babies and kidnapping; betrayal and loyalty. The initial plotting is unconvincing, but the characters are substantial and the relationships among friends are strong.
The Devil’s Necklace will appeal to most fans of historical romance. The Handmaiden’s Necklace completes the trilogy. Recommended.
Readalikes:
Celeste Bradley’s Liar’s Club; Sophie Jordan’s Forgotten Princesses; Cecilia Grant’s Blackshear family romances; Gaelen Foley’s Inferno Club; Elizabeth Essex’s Reckless Brides novels; Amanda Quick; Mary Balogh; Nicole Jordan.
Pace: Fast
Characters: Good w/in genre stereotypes; likeable
Story: Character-driven; intricately plotted
Language: Engaging; richly detailed
Tone: Steamy; strong sense of time and place; suspenseful
Frame: London; 1805
September 21, 2019
Neskaičiau pirmosios dalies, nes iš aprašymų susidarė įspūdis, kad knygas sieja tik perlų vėrinys (kitaip tariant leidyklų ir autorės bandymas parduoti daugiau pasitelkiant serijos magiją, kas gerai veikia šiais laikais).
Istoriniai meilės romanai kartais man visai patinka, o apie jūrą ir piratus jau senokai nebuvau skaičiusi. Gaila, teko nusivilti. Labai silpni dialogai, tradicinis nekaltos merginos drebėjimas prieš alfa vyruką, kuris užsimano ją gauti (savaime suprantama dėl keršto) ir nuobodoka rašymo maniera. Įvykiai tęsiasi ir tęsiasi, o tada dar tęsiasi, tačiau nieko tokio įdomaus taip ir nenutinka. Pagrindinė veikėja man buvo kažkoks miksas bailutės ir labai išauklėtos moters, kuri bet kokia kaina bando elgtis itin kultūringai (net su tuo, kuris ją pagrobė), o štai tas, kuris trokšta keršto ir pareiškia pasiguldysiąs ją į lovą, galiausiai, žinoma, to nebenori jėga ir palieka ramybėje, nes pajunta gailestį.
Istorija nebūtų bloga ir gal net patiks toms, kas mėgsta senovę, rūmų stiliaus manieras, laivus ir vyrus, kurie iš pikčiurnų virsta mylinčiais. Tiesiog aprašinėjama gana nuobodžiai, o įvykiai visiškai nuspėjami. Man trūko intrigos ir įtampos, smarkesnio žodžių karo tarp veikėjų, kad pasijustų tos kibirkštėlės sklandančios tarp jų. Turbūt, knyga galėjo būti trumpesnė, kad galiausiai netaptų tokia nuobodi.
Istoriniai meilės romanai kartais man visai patinka, o apie jūrą ir piratus jau senokai nebuvau skaičiusi. Gaila, teko nusivilti. Labai silpni dialogai, tradicinis nekaltos merginos drebėjimas prieš alfa vyruką, kuris užsimano ją gauti (savaime suprantama dėl keršto) ir nuobodoka rašymo maniera. Įvykiai tęsiasi ir tęsiasi, o tada dar tęsiasi, tačiau nieko tokio įdomaus taip ir nenutinka. Pagrindinė veikėja man buvo kažkoks miksas bailutės ir labai išauklėtos moters, kuri bet kokia kaina bando elgtis itin kultūringai (net su tuo, kuris ją pagrobė), o štai tas, kuris trokšta keršto ir pareiškia pasiguldysiąs ją į lovą, galiausiai, žinoma, to nebenori jėga ir palieka ramybėje, nes pajunta gailestį.
Istorija nebūtų bloga ir gal net patiks toms, kas mėgsta senovę, rūmų stiliaus manieras, laivus ir vyrus, kurie iš pikčiurnų virsta mylinčiais. Tiesiog aprašinėjama gana nuobodžiai, o įvykiai visiškai nuspėjami. Man trūko intrigos ir įtampos, smarkesnio žodžių karo tarp veikėjų, kad pasijustų tos kibirkštėlės sklandančios tarp jų. Turbūt, knyga galėjo būti trumpesnė, kad galiausiai netaptų tokia nuobodi.
March 15, 2023
My spoiler-free thoughts:
I read this book when I was desperately looking for a book about pregnancy that started early on in the book and continued till the end. I love pregnancy in a good romance book, what can I say?
This one was a decent read despite Ethan's obsession with revenge and his uncompromising denial that he loves Grace. He stubbornly believes that she is the daughter of the man who killed his crew and cannot accept his love for her because that would be a sin and make him a monster.
Grace Chastain is captured by him (quite literlly at the start but then also emotionally) and grows to love him deeply. She had a lot of patience with him and I was expecting some decent groveling from him after all that happened between them. After many events, the truth is revealed and our couple finds happy ever after!
Still, despite being a bit long and drawn out at some parts, I enjoyed!
I read this book when I was desperately looking for a book about pregnancy that started early on in the book and continued till the end. I love pregnancy in a good romance book, what can I say?
This one was a decent read despite Ethan's obsession with revenge and his uncompromising denial that he loves Grace. He stubbornly believes that she is the daughter of the man who killed his crew and cannot accept his love for her because that would be a sin and make him a monster.
Grace Chastain is captured by him (quite literlly at the start but then also emotionally) and grows to love him deeply. She had a lot of patience with him and I was expecting some decent groveling from him after all that happened between them. After many events, the truth is revealed and our couple finds happy ever after!
Still, despite being a bit long and drawn out at some parts, I enjoyed!
February 26, 2021
This is the third book from Ms. Martin that I have read, and I actually really enjoyed this one. It was the second book in the pearl necklace series, and now I really want to read the third book. This book was just fascinating from beginning to end and the description of everything is so well written that I could visualize everything. There is so much going on but the story flows so well that you almost forget about all the different things going on. The best part it, I think I would have enjoyed the book without having read the first in the series because it wasn't necessary to read it first.
June 18, 2022
Well this is technically a reread for me and honestly I was worried about what I was reading at 14. Well it turns out other than lots of tension and sexy times…it was pretty tame! Ethan was downright respectful in the bedroom even if he was kind of a jackass out of it!
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and really was invested in the story! Would Ethan get his head out of his ass? Would Grace gain some self preservation? The answer is yes and no! Haha but I loved it! When the baby was kidnapped…I legit felt the stress and worry for Grace and could not stop turning the page to find out what happens!
Overall, I enjoyed this reread and maybe I had good taste at 14 🤔😂
I was pleasantly surprised by this book and really was invested in the story! Would Ethan get his head out of his ass? Would Grace gain some self preservation? The answer is yes and no! Haha but I loved it! When the baby was kidnapped…I legit felt the stress and worry for Grace and could not stop turning the page to find out what happens!
Overall, I enjoyed this reread and maybe I had good taste at 14 🤔😂
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 2, 2025
Great opening, but in a recently published book it's odd to see so little consent in the meet and seduction scenes. Once the relationship is established, a suspense subplot drives the story, and I began to find the heroine's actions tiresome. Despite falling in love with her captor, she is repeatedly 'headstrong,' which means she does something stupid because she doesn't trust the man she supposedly loves. However, that leads to some good action scenes. Author does a great job of putting the hero into the military conflicts of the time.
October 31, 2025
J'ai retrouvé dans cette histoire un peu du style old school des romances historiques écrites il y a des années, le roman ayant 20 ans : un héros bourru, fier, têtu mais humain. L'héroïne n'est pas une oie blanche et prend plutôt son destin en main, d'une certaine manière bien qu'elle ne puisse pas être totalement libre. Il y a de la passion mais aussi de la rancœur entre nos héros et il faudra du temps et des épreuves pour éclaircir le chemin.
Très bonne lecture avec quelques rebondissements bienvenus.
Très bonne lecture avec quelques rebondissements bienvenus.
April 27, 2018
Just like the first book in this series the second is excellent. These do not have to be read in order and you don't have to read the whole series, but it helps.
I gave this one four stars instead of five because the intimate scenes are exactly the same as the ones in the first book. No imagination and no creativity. Kind of boring. For the most part, after I realized this, I just skipped them.
I gave this one four stars instead of five because the intimate scenes are exactly the same as the ones in the first book. No imagination and no creativity. Kind of boring. For the most part, after I realized this, I just skipped them.
May 16, 2023
Fantastic book.
Wow, I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in a day. I went through so many emotions and cried so hard. Ethan fought his feelings for Grace and was full of revenge. The book really kept me on edge. Was shocked too. Loved their happy ever after and I highly recommend this book.
Wow, I absolutely loved this book and devoured it in a day. I went through so many emotions and cried so hard. Ethan fought his feelings for Grace and was full of revenge. The book really kept me on edge. Was shocked too. Loved their happy ever after and I highly recommend this book.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 105 reviews