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The Fire Trilogy #1
Heartless
A Shameless Bargain
To escape her life of poverty as a tenant farmer's daughter, Ariel Summers made a bargain with the devil-she would become the Earl of Greville's mistress in exchange for the schooling and refinements of a lady. But she couldn't foresee the earl's untimely death, or her own disturbing attraction to his bastard son and heir, Justin Ross.
A Cold-blooded Demand
Justin never meant to demand payment from the tempting young woman his father had so callously planned to ruin. But her innocent allure provoked his ruthless nature and he vowed he would have her in his bed.
An Unexpected Passion
Seduction was his plan but the Earl of Greville never suspected Ariel's innocent passion would awaken emotions he had long believed dead. When mistrust and betrayal threatens the fragile happiness the two of them have found, Justin must convince Ariel he isn't the heartless man she believes...
"Kat Martin dishes up sizzling passion and true love, then she serves it with savoir faire."-Los Angeles Daily News
To escape her life of poverty as a tenant farmer's daughter, Ariel Summers made a bargain with the devil-she would become the Earl of Greville's mistress in exchange for the schooling and refinements of a lady. But she couldn't foresee the earl's untimely death, or her own disturbing attraction to his bastard son and heir, Justin Ross.
A Cold-blooded Demand
Justin never meant to demand payment from the tempting young woman his father had so callously planned to ruin. But her innocent allure provoked his ruthless nature and he vowed he would have her in his bed.
An Unexpected Passion
Seduction was his plan but the Earl of Greville never suspected Ariel's innocent passion would awaken emotions he had long believed dead. When mistrust and betrayal threatens the fragile happiness the two of them have found, Justin must convince Ariel he isn't the heartless man she believes...
"Kat Martin dishes up sizzling passion and true love, then she serves it with savoir faire."-Los Angeles Daily News
336 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 2001
61 people are currently reading
1101 people want to read
About the author
Kat Martin
189 books3,173 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."
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 86 reviews
June 19, 2017
Una historia simple y fácil de leer, con poquísimos personajes pero bien construidos. Entretiene, está bien escrita y te mantiene en sus páginas hasta que la terminas, en mi caso sólo un día. Tiene conflictos ya vistos en el género, pero también otros aspectos originales, como el inicio de la relación de los dos personajes principales. Recomendable si llega a tus manos, pero como se puede desprender de mi comentario.... ni fu ni fa (no es de las que quedará en tu memoria por mucho tiempo).
Quizá en el futuro le de otra oportunidad para saborearla mejor y no leerla tan rápido.
Quizá en el futuro le de otra oportunidad para saborearla mejor y no leerla tan rápido.
August 28, 2019
Kat Martin's Heartless is a fun, escapist historical romance. There's plenty of high drama and it's pretty extra, mostly in an enjoyable way. It feels pretty old school, featuring some literal bodice ripping, which is maybe why the playlist I made for it features a lot of '80s tunes: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4kh... (Justin and Ariel's quintessential song to me is "Lucky Ones," the final track. Yes, I'm addicted to making playlists on Spotify now for historical romances. Don't @ me.) With Heartless, you're clearly in the hands of a seasoned romance writer, and I look forward to reading more by Kat Martin, including the next book in the Fire Trilogy.
When Ariel Summers was fourteen, she made a deal with the much older Earl of Greville to escape her hardscrabble life as a tenant farmer's daughter. If the earl would pay for her schooling so she could learn to be a lady, when she came of age she would become the earl's mistress. Ariel goes off to finishing school for four years. Unbeknownst to her, the earl dies two years in, leaving his title and fortune to his bastard son Justin. Justin was legitimized on his father's deathbed but that doesn't stop him from resenting the father who never loved him. For two years he receives the letters from Ariel about her progress at school which she thinks she's sending to his father. When Ariel arrives at Justin's townhouse in London, she's in for a rude awakening. Justin decides he wants to hold Ariel to her bargain and have her become his mistress. Ariel just wants to be a lady and to repay her debt in any other way. But she can't fight her attraction to the formidable earl.
Ariel is a little Demelza and a little Gigi.
She's resourceful and determined to rise above the poverty and abuse that she came from. Naive though she may be, she's empathetic and astute at picking up on other people's suffering. Speaking of Gigi, Justin reminded me of Gaston from that movie when he literally says, "To be truthful, I find most of life dull and boring."
I felt his pain and felt bad for him, even when he's behaving badly. He has a cruel streak and he's one of those cold aristos whose heart has to be melted.
There are a lot of elements I love in this story. I loved Justin and Ariel's painful, tortured backstories and how they're united in pain and sympathy for one another. It reminded me of one of my favorite shows The Spanish Princess, with the reading letters and falling in love with someone before first sight/thinking you're penning letters to one guy and it's really someone else. Justin gave me some Thornton vibes from North and South with his whole successful businessman deal and his factory owning endeavors. Both he and Ariel have a head for business and bond over their interest in it. And Justin and his nemesis reminded me of Wickham and Darcy with their conflicting reports about the past and the question of who's the honorable one and who's the dishonorable one.
Heartless is fast-paced, with good plotting. It has a strong start, setting things up nicely with great economy. It takes some turns I didn't see coming. The hero fucks up BIG TIME and that sets a lot of things in motion. Sometimes Martin glosses over incidents, recapping things that would have been more impactful recounted firsthand.
The characters can behave in a way that strains credibility for the Regency Era. They can feel pretty brash/forward/indiscreet. Some of the things they'll do/say in front of other people are unbelievable and had me all
Justin and Ariel can be stupid and infuriating, I must admit. One of the villains is cartoonishly evil and OTT. There's no subtlety to this villain at all. It's a dark and stormy night with suspicious frequency, especially whenever the hero and heroine hook up. The writing and descriptions can veer off into purple prose at times. Things can get repetitive, especially with lines about the hero being heartless. It's a pet peeve of mine when the title of a work is overstated in-text. (*cough* Can anyone say Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? *cough*) It feels like overkill, hammering us over the head with it, and to me it dilutes the power of the title.
Despite some issues, Heartless is a sexy and diverting romp. It will keep you engaged until the happily ever after. This is a good one if you're a historical romance fan.
When Ariel Summers was fourteen, she made a deal with the much older Earl of Greville to escape her hardscrabble life as a tenant farmer's daughter. If the earl would pay for her schooling so she could learn to be a lady, when she came of age she would become the earl's mistress. Ariel goes off to finishing school for four years. Unbeknownst to her, the earl dies two years in, leaving his title and fortune to his bastard son Justin. Justin was legitimized on his father's deathbed but that doesn't stop him from resenting the father who never loved him. For two years he receives the letters from Ariel about her progress at school which she thinks she's sending to his father. When Ariel arrives at Justin's townhouse in London, she's in for a rude awakening. Justin decides he wants to hold Ariel to her bargain and have her become his mistress. Ariel just wants to be a lady and to repay her debt in any other way. But she can't fight her attraction to the formidable earl.
Ariel is a little Demelza and a little Gigi.
She's resourceful and determined to rise above the poverty and abuse that she came from. Naive though she may be, she's empathetic and astute at picking up on other people's suffering. Speaking of Gigi, Justin reminded me of Gaston from that movie when he literally says, "To be truthful, I find most of life dull and boring."
I felt his pain and felt bad for him, even when he's behaving badly. He has a cruel streak and he's one of those cold aristos whose heart has to be melted.
There are a lot of elements I love in this story. I loved Justin and Ariel's painful, tortured backstories and how they're united in pain and sympathy for one another. It reminded me of one of my favorite shows The Spanish Princess, with the reading letters and falling in love with someone before first sight/thinking you're penning letters to one guy and it's really someone else. Justin gave me some Thornton vibes from North and South with his whole successful businessman deal and his factory owning endeavors. Both he and Ariel have a head for business and bond over their interest in it. And Justin and his nemesis reminded me of Wickham and Darcy with their conflicting reports about the past and the question of who's the honorable one and who's the dishonorable one.
Heartless is fast-paced, with good plotting. It has a strong start, setting things up nicely with great economy. It takes some turns I didn't see coming. The hero fucks up BIG TIME and that sets a lot of things in motion. Sometimes Martin glosses over incidents, recapping things that would have been more impactful recounted firsthand.
The characters can behave in a way that strains credibility for the Regency Era. They can feel pretty brash/forward/indiscreet. Some of the things they'll do/say in front of other people are unbelievable and had me all
Justin and Ariel can be stupid and infuriating, I must admit. One of the villains is cartoonishly evil and OTT. There's no subtlety to this villain at all. It's a dark and stormy night with suspicious frequency, especially whenever the hero and heroine hook up. The writing and descriptions can veer off into purple prose at times. Things can get repetitive, especially with lines about the hero being heartless. It's a pet peeve of mine when the title of a work is overstated in-text. (*cough* Can anyone say Cat on a Hot Tin Roof? *cough*) It feels like overkill, hammering us over the head with it, and to me it dilutes the power of the title.
Despite some issues, Heartless is a sexy and diverting romp. It will keep you engaged until the happily ever after. This is a good one if you're a historical romance fan.
August 22, 2024
Já há muito tempo que não lia um livro de Kat Martin e estou tão contente por ter retomado a leitura dos livros desta escritora! Heartless é o típico livro de Kat Martin, mas nem por isso gostei menos. Aliás, adorei a história de Ariel e Justin. Para mim, não há nada como a leitura de um bom romance de época para levantar o espírito e aquecer a alma. E quando penso que há mais dois livros para ler da trilogia Fire, fico super entusiasmada.
August 2, 2014
Ariel is the abused daughter of a tenant farmer who dreams of better things. At 14, she approaches the aging Earl of Greville, and offers her services as his mistress if he'll pay for her to be educated and clothed as a lady.
Fast forward almost 5 years. Having finished school, Ariel is summoned to London to fulfill her part of the bargain. The thing is, the person collecting is not the earl she knew—he somehow managed to die without anyone telling her, and he's left his bastard (in more ways than one) son Justin in charge. Justin's been paying for her schooling and receiving her endearing weekly letters since his last-minute adoption, just before the earl's death. Now he has to figure out what to do with the chit.
When he sees her
he knows what he wants to do. Problem is, he's not yer old-fashioned-bodice-ripper hero, so he's gotta be nice about it. Meaning he needs her consent, signed in triplicate, under no duress, before he educates her further.
To complicate matters more, she's met another guy, Phillip, who has charmed her half out of her stockings. Turns out Phil is an old enemy of Justin's, and despite Justin's warnings that the guy is not as sweet as he seems, and an abundance of evidence to support the claim, Ariel just can't help herself—she may not love the guy but she can't ignore his blatant efforts to get her off by herself.
Did I mention she's blonde?
She ain't stupid in any other way, but she's dumb as a dustbunny when it comes to men.
There are broken hearts, betrayals, and for once, I enjoyed seeing some real regret on the part of the person who did wrong (for this, and the fact that this part of the romance got me sniffling, I'll bump the story an extra half-star). The story takes a neat twist towards the end, an alliance of villains who never feel quite as dangerous as they should, but they do add some action to the story, which is good.
4 stars.
Fast forward almost 5 years. Having finished school, Ariel is summoned to London to fulfill her part of the bargain. The thing is, the person collecting is not the earl she knew—he somehow managed to die without anyone telling her, and he's left his bastard (in more ways than one) son Justin in charge. Justin's been paying for her schooling and receiving her endearing weekly letters since his last-minute adoption, just before the earl's death. Now he has to figure out what to do with the chit.
When he sees her
he knows what he wants to do. Problem is, he's not yer old-fashioned-bodice-ripper hero, so he's gotta be nice about it. Meaning he needs her consent, signed in triplicate, under no duress, before he educates her further.
To complicate matters more, she's met another guy, Phillip, who has charmed her half out of her stockings. Turns out Phil is an old enemy of Justin's, and despite Justin's warnings that the guy is not as sweet as he seems, and an abundance of evidence to support the claim, Ariel just can't help herself—she may not love the guy but she can't ignore his blatant efforts to get her off by herself.
Did I mention she's blonde?
She ain't stupid in any other way, but she's dumb as a dustbunny when it comes to men.
There are broken hearts, betrayals, and for once, I enjoyed seeing some real regret on the part of the person who did wrong (for this, and the fact that this part of the romance got me sniffling, I'll bump the story an extra half-star). The story takes a neat twist towards the end, an alliance of villains who never feel quite as dangerous as they should, but they do add some action to the story, which is good.
4 stars.
July 29, 2021
3.5 stars ｡･:*˚:✧｡ This was a good first book, Kat Martin is a new author for me and already I’m excited to read her works. At the start this story was a little slow for me but in the end I really loved how fast this book got. I connected a lot to the main heroine and really loved her character, can’t wait to read the others in this series which I think I may love more.
September 8, 2014
Otra novela más donde su protagonista tiene que serle infiel a su amada, porque sino no es un hombre. Venga ya, ¿en serio se cree Justin que eso le hace ser más... varonil? Solo le hace ser un gilipollas. En los demás aspectos, Justin tenía un gran corazón, pero la infidelidad y el abuso del sexo sin sentido, no es algo que se pueda pasar de largo, sobre todo la estupidez suya. Porque Justin es la clase de chico que le es infiel a su amada porque su mejor amigo le dice que lo sea. De verdad, un poquito más de personalidad, eh.
Ariel es la típica, típica, típica damisela en apuros que es rescatada por los hombres, de esas que lloran y suspiran cuando el chico que les gusta llega a casa oliendo a otra, pero también es de esas que no pierden el tiempo resistiéndose a los libertinos. ¿Para que decirle no a Justin si puede perderse en sus brazos y sentir cómo, con solo una mirada, él le roba el corazón? Me cayó bien Ariel pero es la típica tontita.
Creo que hay un montón de novelas románticas históricas mucho más bonitas que esta.
Ariel es la típica, típica, típica damisela en apuros que es rescatada por los hombres, de esas que lloran y suspiran cuando el chico que les gusta llega a casa oliendo a otra, pero también es de esas que no pierden el tiempo resistiéndose a los libertinos. ¿Para que decirle no a Justin si puede perderse en sus brazos y sentir cómo, con solo una mirada, él le roba el corazón? Me cayó bien Ariel pero es la típica tontita.
Creo que hay un montón de novelas románticas históricas mucho más bonitas que esta.
August 25, 2018
Okay
This story about a teenage girl who makes a bargain with the Earl on the estate where she lives to pay for her education and make her a lady in return she would become his mistress is a bit bland.
I got bored at times when Ariel overthinks just about everything. She actually gets married even though she has gut-wrenching fear. Too much angst ruins a story for me.
Another tiresome and overdone aspect of the story is the man who is unable to love. How the heck would he know?!! He broods and mopes around so much it's a wonder he has even one friend let alone is appealing to the ladies.
There are some good things about the plot that kept me reading, though. Take out the over thinking angst and the lack of human feeling crammed down the reader's throat after the point has already been made and this would have actually been a four-star book.
Some readers of historical fiction and/or romance might like this book.
This story about a teenage girl who makes a bargain with the Earl on the estate where she lives to pay for her education and make her a lady in return she would become his mistress is a bit bland.
I got bored at times when Ariel overthinks just about everything. She actually gets married even though she has gut-wrenching fear. Too much angst ruins a story for me.
Another tiresome and overdone aspect of the story is the man who is unable to love. How the heck would he know?!! He broods and mopes around so much it's a wonder he has even one friend let alone is appealing to the ladies.
There are some good things about the plot that kept me reading, though. Take out the over thinking angst and the lack of human feeling crammed down the reader's throat after the point has already been made and this would have actually been a four-star book.
Some readers of historical fiction and/or romance might like this book.
June 16, 2023
Reread 2023
January 9, 2018
leído en febrero 2013
**3.8 estrellas
me gustó... en el momento que lo leí me entretuvo bastante!!
**3.8 estrellas
me gustó... en el momento que lo leí me entretuvo bastante!!
September 1, 2021
✨This was definitely an early-2000s, Y2KindaIckyAndTotallyCringey kind of romance✨
While it has one of my favorite historical romance covers, I finished this one completely exhausted and not entirely satisfied. There was just too much mistrust and self-doubt on both sides of that relationship. According to Ariel, Justin’s eyes flashed with so many “hidden” emotions throughout the book they could direct traffic. However, I was never fully convinced of her love for him or his decency.
There was a love triangle that wasn’t even a love triangle because one side of it is floppy and ugly and completely wretched and it makes another side of the triangle look like a complete and utter fool for even deigning to respond to his disgusting letters and grant him any amount of dignity, while the final side is too focused on saying he can’t love anything rather than sitting down and shutting up for long enough to hear how ridiculous he sounds.
Oh Barbara you venomous bitch, you cowardly cur, you absolute leech! I really wanted her to suffer far worse than she did. I also wanted Justin to kick her to the curb sans cute nephew. Oh and Phillip I wanted you to suffer more but at least you knew what was coming to you at least a little bit, you poisonous lout.
I can’t believe he just let his grandmother sit there alone. Are we not going to mention how none of his family ever visited her? When she sets out lovely China and serves a huge meal? She’s that poor fricken grandpa on Twitter! The fact that they didn’t snatch her up right away and make her visit right then ruined me. Justin didn’t earn any brownie points with that whole fiasco.
I like the POV switches from the main characters it always ups the drama but man did I get angry. I kept reading the dialogue like those early-2000s overly-dramatic anti-piracy commercials in black and white. The writing was fine but I really got lost in the morally questionable characters. I know I’m supposed to like Clayton but a sixteen-year-old? Oh the charms of early-2000s romance. Let alone, the entire bargain made with that nasty earl. It just really didn’t seem all that romantic to me on any side of the di. Ariel also found herself in love with Justin way too quickly, though I much preferred that to her disastrous notions about Phillip.
Reader, I’m torn. I’m not sure if I want to read book two, as I am intrigued as to how Clayton and Kit will get on but am also weary of the drama. The steam wasn’t all that fantastic and I think if it would’ve been great I definitely would have read book two. Also why not call it Worthless??? Such a missed opportunity. I’m also intrigued as to if we get the story of that duke maybe in a third book. Ugh! I hate how curious I am even when I’m not a huge fan of a book; I always think the second will get me.
⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
While it has one of my favorite historical romance covers, I finished this one completely exhausted and not entirely satisfied. There was just too much mistrust and self-doubt on both sides of that relationship. According to Ariel, Justin’s eyes flashed with so many “hidden” emotions throughout the book they could direct traffic. However, I was never fully convinced of her love for him or his decency.
There was a love triangle that wasn’t even a love triangle because one side of it is floppy and ugly and completely wretched and it makes another side of the triangle look like a complete and utter fool for even deigning to respond to his disgusting letters and grant him any amount of dignity, while the final side is too focused on saying he can’t love anything rather than sitting down and shutting up for long enough to hear how ridiculous he sounds.
Oh Barbara you venomous bitch, you cowardly cur, you absolute leech! I really wanted her to suffer far worse than she did. I also wanted Justin to kick her to the curb sans cute nephew. Oh and Phillip I wanted you to suffer more but at least you knew what was coming to you at least a little bit, you poisonous lout.
I can’t believe he just let his grandmother sit there alone. Are we not going to mention how none of his family ever visited her? When she sets out lovely China and serves a huge meal? She’s that poor fricken grandpa on Twitter! The fact that they didn’t snatch her up right away and make her visit right then ruined me. Justin didn’t earn any brownie points with that whole fiasco.
I like the POV switches from the main characters it always ups the drama but man did I get angry. I kept reading the dialogue like those early-2000s overly-dramatic anti-piracy commercials in black and white. The writing was fine but I really got lost in the morally questionable characters. I know I’m supposed to like Clayton but a sixteen-year-old? Oh the charms of early-2000s romance. Let alone, the entire bargain made with that nasty earl. It just really didn’t seem all that romantic to me on any side of the di. Ariel also found herself in love with Justin way too quickly, though I much preferred that to her disastrous notions about Phillip.
Reader, I’m torn. I’m not sure if I want to read book two, as I am intrigued as to how Clayton and Kit will get on but am also weary of the drama. The steam wasn’t all that fantastic and I think if it would’ve been great I definitely would have read book two. Also why not call it Worthless??? Such a missed opportunity. I’m also intrigued as to if we get the story of that duke maybe in a third book. Ugh! I hate how curious I am even when I’m not a huge fan of a book; I always think the second will get me.
⭐️⭐️.75/5 🌶🌶🌶/5
July 10, 2022
Like I said the other time, Martin writes like a poor man's McNaught. Which is ok by me.
Ok so the prose isn't spectacular but it isn't horrendous. And at the very least, it's not a wallpaper HR.
That being said, I only ever read this because I like her characterization. It suits me, the old school alpha MMC who's emotionally challenged :)
But this one just lacked the spark that book 2 had.
Ok so the prose isn't spectacular but it isn't horrendous. And at the very least, it's not a wallpaper HR.
That being said, I only ever read this because I like her characterization. It suits me, the old school alpha MMC who's emotionally challenged :)
But this one just lacked the spark that book 2 had.
July 27, 2011
El libro en sí me ha gustado, de esos que te entretienen en las tardes fresquitas de verano, dentro de lo que suele ser la romántica histórica eso sí: joven hijo bastardo reconocido como heredero al morir su padre conoce a chica encantadora y dulce que hizo un trato con su progenitor (el del chico) para que la sacara de la pobreza a cambio de ofrecerle su "atención personal" llegada a una edad adecuada. ¿Mantendrá el susodicho trato o liberará a la joven?
Habría resultado una lectura muy amena de no ser porque la traducción es NEFASTA. Creo que hay "profesionales" que todavía no se enteran de que en inglés es necesario repetir con más frecuencia los nombres propios y los pronombres, pero que al pasarlo a castellano no debería hacerse literalmente (y me refiero a repetir el nombre de la protagonista tres veces en un par de frases, algo que roza lo absurdo). Es una pena, porque la historia es sencilla pero amena y se disfrutaría muchísimo más de haberse cuidado este aspecto.
Habría resultado una lectura muy amena de no ser porque la traducción es NEFASTA. Creo que hay "profesionales" que todavía no se enteran de que en inglés es necesario repetir con más frecuencia los nombres propios y los pronombres, pero que al pasarlo a castellano no debería hacerse literalmente (y me refiero a repetir el nombre de la protagonista tres veces en un par de frases, algo que roza lo absurdo). Es una pena, porque la historia es sencilla pero amena y se disfrutaría muchísimo más de haberse cuidado este aspecto.
April 9, 2016
Quizás esperaba más de la historia. Me ha parecido un poco más de lo mismo pero resumiendo me ha gustado. Los protagonistas son buenos pero él demasiado típico a los protas masculinos de novela romántica histórica.
May 13, 2017
Sé que es una historia muy vista, que algunos detalles no me cuadran, aunque con un toque original. Pero me ha gustado bastante la historia y al fin y al cabo eso es lo que quiero, dejarme llevar, que me haga sentir y disfrutar de la lectura bien narrada.
August 15, 2020
Loved the premise of this book. The My Fair Lady/Pygmalion aspect of the plot was what had me adding to cart immediately. Who doesn’t love a good self-improvement overhaul? I felt though that it could have been drawn out a little more so the readers could experience the emotional growth of the heroine.
The 3 star rating was because I couldn’t quite connect with the Hero. He wish-washed between an overbearing alpha male to a sensitive pushover at times. Of course, he could have possessed both qualities but they didn’t seem to shine through well enough and I kept wishing for a little more “Clayton Westmoreland” strength in character (my favorite H of all time). The heroine was definitely better portrayed.
A good read with some endearing parts.
The 3 star rating was because I couldn’t quite connect with the Hero. He wish-washed between an overbearing alpha male to a sensitive pushover at times. Of course, he could have possessed both qualities but they didn’t seem to shine through well enough and I kept wishing for a little more “Clayton Westmoreland” strength in character (my favorite H of all time). The heroine was definitely better portrayed.
A good read with some endearing parts.
December 29, 2021
4.5
Es el primer libro que leo de Kat Martin y me ha encantado. Tiene más drama del que acostumbro, por lo que tuve dosificarlo. Excelente ambientación, buena evolución de los personajes. El tema legal de cómo a un bastardo le puedan heredar el título no me convenció porque no me lo justifican del todo, lo hace ver como un trámite, pero en la práctica era imposible.
Fuera de ese detalle, sin duda alguna volveré a leer su trabajo. Es exquisito
Es el primer libro que leo de Kat Martin y me ha encantado. Tiene más drama del que acostumbro, por lo que tuve dosificarlo. Excelente ambientación, buena evolución de los personajes. El tema legal de cómo a un bastardo le puedan heredar el título no me convenció porque no me lo justifican del todo, lo hace ver como un trámite, pero en la práctica era imposible.
Fuera de ese detalle, sin duda alguna volveré a leer su trabajo. Es exquisito
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April 5, 2021DNF before 50%
This book was a TBR jar pick of mine. I pick one book from my TBR jar each month and do a dedicated reading vlog for said book. This was my pick for March.
I, unfortunately, did not love this one, and I have linked my vlog describing why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spKso...
This book was a TBR jar pick of mine. I pick one book from my TBR jar each month and do a dedicated reading vlog for said book. This was my pick for March.
I, unfortunately, did not love this one, and I have linked my vlog describing why
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spKso...
June 18, 2022
I enjoyed the story. I loved the heroine 's innocence and the development of the mc's love story .
September 4, 2024
I've realized 1 despise miscommunication tropes. Also felt weird about the ages and the constant mentioning of her ‘young' body.
December 4, 2014
I am always amazed once I finish reading a historical novel. I expect to be bored but I am usually in awe. This book was no exception. I didn't read the book jacket before I started reading the book so I had no idea what to expect. After reading the first chapter I almost stopped reading the book because of the direction I thought it would take. I worried that issues involving rape, prostitution, and assault would abound in thus story. However, I gave it another chapter and I became captivated by the main characters. A simple misunderstanding was revealed and a secondary character was introduced that would lay the groundwork for the entire story.
The H was my favorite character. He was flawed but had a good heart. The h was a bit trying at times. She was quick to find fault and slow to forgive. But I respect her determination to stick to her morals and protect her heart at all costs. She was a take charge woman instead of a doormat. I can totally relate to her character.
This is a book I will definitely reread in the future. I am also interested in reading about the couple's best friends in the next book in the series.
The H was my favorite character. He was flawed but had a good heart. The h was a bit trying at times. She was quick to find fault and slow to forgive. But I respect her determination to stick to her morals and protect her heart at all costs. She was a take charge woman instead of a doormat. I can totally relate to her character.
This is a book I will definitely reread in the future. I am also interested in reading about the couple's best friends in the next book in the series.
February 5, 2017
Una historia que realmente me gustó más de lo que pensé, pues al leer la sinopsis no esperaba nada bueno, pero la autora me sorprendió con los personajes, el romance y el trama, que esto aunque no fue lo mejor que he leído, valió la pena de principio a fin.
Espero leer en algún momento los siguientes libros, sobre todo, de cierto personaje que me dio curiosidad.
Espero leer en algún momento los siguientes libros, sobre todo, de cierto personaje que me dio curiosidad.
February 20, 2015
อยากจับพระนางมาเขย่าๆ น่าโมโหมาก มีอะไรก็ไม่คุยกัน คิดเองเออเอง เจ็บเองไปหมด
นางเอกอ่ะตัวดี เชื่อมั่นในคนอื่นมากกว่าพระเอก ที่จริงอยู่กับเขาตลอดก็น่าจะรู้จักเขาดีขึ้น แต่นี่กลับเชื่อผู้ร้ายซะงั้น
ตัวร้ายก็ร้ายแบบไปกองอยู่ท้ายเรื่อง แล้วก็ตายแบบทำตัวเองทั้งนั้น
นางเอกอ่ะตัวดี เชื่อมั่นในคนอื่นมากกว่าพระเอก ที่จริงอยู่กับเขาตลอดก็น่าจะรู้จักเขาดีขึ้น แต่นี่กลับเชื่อผู้ร้ายซะงั้น
ตัวร้ายก็ร้ายแบบไปกองอยู่ท้ายเรื่อง แล้วก็ตายแบบทำตัวเองทั้งนั้น
January 16, 2017
Really enjoyed this book. Great characters and really pulls on your heart strings.
November 16, 2018
Hace años que tengo este libro en el "Want to Read" de Goodreads (y creo que fue uno de los primeros 100 libros que agregué) y esperaba encontrarme una gran historia de amor (con, obviamente, los típicos clichés) que disfrutaría desde la primera página...
Me equivoque a medias.
Encontré una novela de romance donde destacan más la mayoría de los personajes (con algunas pegas en Justin) que la trama en sí. Ariel me pareció una buena protagonista con ese carácter inocente y la tenacidad de ser capaz de conseguir lo que quiere(o por lo menos hasta la mitad del libro o cuando la encierran en Newgate) . Lo mismo podría decir de Justin hasta que sucedió el "enorme malentendido" y su accionar hizo que se esfumase toda mi buena impresión de entrada; aunque por lo menos se mostró culpable de principio hasta final. Y no, no me ha convencido ese cambio drástico de sentirse amado a último momento cuando se podría haberlo desarrollado mejor. En cuanto a Phillip... Solo puedo decir que es un bastardo de mierda. Lo mismo digo de Barbara. Pero, . Y Clay y Kit... ¡Me encantaron! Los dos son tan leales a sus amigos y entre ambos, a su vez, no se agradan.
Sobre la trama, bueno... No sé que habré pensado hace años pero puedo asegurar es que no fue la gran cosa. Siento que hay cosas que quedaron abreviadas en un solo capitulo y otras fueron innecesarias; pero a su vez necesarias (y ojala una de ellas no hubiera ocurrido de tal forma). Pero, debo admitir que me han impresionado los giros dramáticos. Sobretodo en los últimos dos capítulos que, sinceramente, no lo esperaba para nada.Y pensar que acabaría en plan epilogo con sus "felices para siempre".
En resumen, es una novela muy entretenida pero no va a pasar a la historia y a mi memoria como una de mis mejores lecturas. En parte, es una lastima puesto que es el primer libro que leo de esta autora. Tal vez, en algún momento muy lejano, vuelva a leerla si solo leyese el siguiente libro de la trilogía(por Kit y Clay).
Me equivoque a medias.
Encontré una novela de romance donde destacan más la mayoría de los personajes (con algunas pegas en Justin) que la trama en sí. Ariel me pareció una buena protagonista con ese carácter inocente y la tenacidad de ser capaz de conseguir lo que quiere
Sobre la trama, bueno... No sé que habré pensado hace años pero puedo asegurar es que no fue la gran cosa. Siento que hay cosas que quedaron abreviadas en un solo capitulo y otras fueron innecesarias; pero a su vez necesarias (y ojala una de ellas no hubiera ocurrido de tal forma). Pero, debo admitir que me han impresionado los giros dramáticos. Sobretodo en los últimos dos capítulos que, sinceramente, no lo esperaba para nada.
En resumen, es una novela muy entretenida pero no va a pasar a la historia y a mi memoria como una de mis mejores lecturas. En parte, es una lastima puesto que es el primer libro que leo de esta autora. Tal vez, en algún momento muy lejano, vuelva a leerla si solo leyese el siguiente libro de la trilogía
May 12, 2024
I really liked this book; the story was good (a murder plot added to the romantic one) and I liked both the H, Justin, and the h, Ariel. It was fast paced, and didn't go overboard when it came to arguments, misunderstandings, and separations.
Ariel was a likeable character; sweet and gentle, she was also strong and determined, despite going through a lot, she never gave up or let things get the best of her. I also like the way she helped Justin with his work by taking over the accounting/bookkeeping tasks of his business, that he had no inclination for.
Justin had his faults, but considering his background they were understandable. That doesn't mean you won't feel like choking him when he hurts Ariel badly with his unfounded suspicions, though he does pay for that later.
I defy anyone to read the scenes with Justin's grandmother and not feel like shedding tears, they were so touching.
There were some good secondary characters, like Justin's friend Clay, who becomes a good friend to Ariel as well, and Kit, a young woman Ariel went to boarding school with, who feels quite antagonistic towards Clay (and you know what that usually means)! I'm guessing they're going to have a book of their own!
The two villains in the story (Justin's sister, Barbara and Phillip, Ariel's rejected suitor) really make you hate them and look forward to their getting the fate they deserve!
Worth reading!
Ariel was a likeable character; sweet and gentle, she was also strong and determined, despite going through a lot, she never gave up or let things get the best of her. I also like the way she helped Justin with his work by taking over the accounting/bookkeeping tasks of his business, that he had no inclination for.
Justin had his faults, but considering his background they were understandable. That doesn't mean you won't feel like choking him when he hurts Ariel badly with his unfounded suspicions, though he does pay for that later.
I defy anyone to read the scenes with Justin's grandmother and not feel like shedding tears, they were so touching.
There were some good secondary characters, like Justin's friend Clay, who becomes a good friend to Ariel as well, and Kit, a young woman Ariel went to boarding school with, who feels quite antagonistic towards Clay (and you know what that usually means)! I'm guessing they're going to have a book of their own!
The two villains in the story (Justin's sister, Barbara and Phillip, Ariel's rejected suitor) really make you hate them and look forward to their getting the fate they deserve!
Worth reading!
April 10, 2024
Few characters and a lot of drama is the best way to describe "Heartless" by Kat Martin. There's also quite a good amount of love scenes (open and closed door) 🌼
I had this book on my tbr since forever and I'm pretty sad of not reading it sooner. The characters are very well developed and tte love story's pretty passionate (? The trope of miscommunication between characters is so.ething I usually loathe, but when it comes to this kind of stories I always enjoyed it (probably because it reminds me of my grannys telenovelas) ✨️
Absolutely in love with Justin Ross, he's my new book boyfriend. He's in fact a very good morally gray character and I loved his evolution throughout the entire story. Ariel's a sweet girl, I was rooting for her.
I had this book on my tbr since forever and I'm pretty sad of not reading it sooner. The characters are very well developed and tte love story's pretty passionate (? The trope of miscommunication between characters is so.ething I usually loathe, but when it comes to this kind of stories I always enjoyed it (probably because it reminds me of my grannys telenovelas) ✨️
Absolutely in love with Justin Ross, he's my new book boyfriend. He's in fact a very good morally gray character and I loved his evolution throughout the entire story. Ariel's a sweet girl, I was rooting for her.
December 19, 2020
I love period romances of old!! Dukes, Earls, Duchess’s — all alone, that seems to add an air of romance to the scenario. The storyline has been told before, the powerful Duke and the poor girl who fall in love, but not with the same flair that Kat has. Justin and Ariel’s story is brilliantly written and so much more than the basic! I really love this book and have already started reading other books in this series!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 1, 2022
No doubt, Kat Martin is an amazing storyteller. Her books have yet to let down. Reason for 3 star rating: the story has so many movements in a wide expanse of time that I wish itd been spread into a Trilogy. But never doubt, you wont be able to put it down unless you need to give your heart rate a break!
Its beautiful sexy and thrilling.
Its beautiful sexy and thrilling.
February 10, 2024
(4/5) me gustó mucho, pensaba que era un libro que me iba a pasar así nomas pero la verdad me encantó, el romance, todo el drama, me sorprendió.
Me gustó la pareja de Justin y Ariel, aunque admito que estuve medio libro esperando el embarazo y me irrita que nunca pasó, eso si me decepcionó bastante.
Me gustó la pareja de Justin y Ariel, aunque admito que estuve medio libro esperando el embarazo y me irrita que nunca pasó, eso si me decepcionó bastante.
July 16, 2020
Wow this was better than I thought. It was one of those reads that you know youre going to get lost in yet you know it could potentially be a bunch of fluff but the GOOD kind. Idk why i loved this as much as i did but I did! Lol!
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