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Captain's Bride
Captain Blackwell was a rake and rogue...a devilishly handsome scoundrel who used women and tossed them aside. Marriage was the last thing on his mind. Then a wealthy plantation owner invited the captain to his daughter's nineteenth birthday party - an obvious attempt at matchmaking.
Young Glory Summerfield was spoiled, pampered...and breathtakingly beautiful. Surrounded by suitors, she was captivated by the one man who treated her with bold arrogance and undressed her with his eyes - the infuriating captain! Theirs was a battle of wits, sparked with a naked passion that surged through their bodies, aching for release. The captain vowed he'd teach this insolent girl a lesson in lovemaking she'd never forget!
But the captain never realized that he himself would become a slave to desire...trapped in the sensual embrace of a woman he could never deny.
Young Glory Summerfield was spoiled, pampered...and breathtakingly beautiful. Surrounded by suitors, she was captivated by the one man who treated her with bold arrogance and undressed her with his eyes - the infuriating captain! Theirs was a battle of wits, sparked with a naked passion that surged through their bodies, aching for release. The captain vowed he'd teach this insolent girl a lesson in lovemaking she'd never forget!
But the captain never realized that he himself would become a slave to desire...trapped in the sensual embrace of a woman he could never deny.
328 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1990
60 people are currently reading
483 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 A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written.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 - 19 of 19 reviews
June 3, 2025
Read: 1/1/25
Setting: South Carolina, New York, Boston Pre-Civil War
2.5 stars rounded 3 stars
Trope: enemies to lovers, pregnancy, stranded on an island
I can't believe this book was written by my favorite KM!
Plot: Glory has the perfect southern belle life. Men adore and fight over her. Everything is wonderful until her father dies. In an act of revenge , her dour mother intends to sell her half-brother. The two escape together and make their way to Captain Nick. Nick is an old friend of Glory's father. He reluctantly agrees.
Later, they are shipwrecked, and temptation proves too much. The pair are in bliss until a misunderstanding happens. Glory never told Nick that Nathan was her brother. So the " I love you" was misinterpreted. So, how long will it take before he realizes his mistake? Will the pregnant Glory find someone else?
Where to begin.....
1. Glory (sometimes Gloria for some reason) is a stupid name!!! It had to be said. 🤷♀️
2. The author failed the Scarlett O'Hara type of h. Very few authors can manage that balance of likability. Glory was spoiled and selfish. Her kinder acts were lacking in real depth
3. Glory's whole personality was one dimensional. There was not much character development.
4. So we have a spoiled brat who is TSTL. Too many times, Glory endangers everybody when told no.
"You can't leave the boat to go to a dangerous pirate island."
"But everybody else is going, so I want to go too! hmm, I'm going to wear the whore costume so I'll blend in. Nobody will harass me!" 🙄
Men fall for her plans every time, too!
-Last complaint of Glory
5. The structure of the book is a problem. The plot and characters are all over the place.
6. Nick was an okay H. He has an interesting backstory, but it's not really utilized in the story. I was expecting his evil stepmom to play the villain role in the story. But no, she only makes a brief appearance. What was the point of his tale of woe? 🤷♀️
I did like that Nick was rake. The book keeps up with his man whore reputation. He leaves his boat to go to his mistress. He was wanting Glory. I mention this because I know one reviewer had a problem with this part.
7. The romance between MC is weird. He treats Glory badly, and it turns her on. She unknowingly likes having a man in control. She wanted nothing to do with him when Nick was kind to her. So they have that kind of relationship. It's not necessaryly a bad thing, I just thought I'd mention it.
8. The slave stuff. The book superficially touches on this subject.
Conclusion: I think KM phoned this book in. The story is not bad. There are some entertaining parts. My high expectations might have affected my ratings.
Setting: South Carolina, New York, Boston Pre-Civil War
2.5 stars rounded 3 stars
Trope: enemies to lovers, pregnancy, stranded on an island
I can't believe this book was written by my favorite KM!
Plot: Glory has the perfect southern belle life. Men adore and fight over her. Everything is wonderful until her father dies. In an act of revenge , her dour mother intends to sell her half-brother. The two escape together and make their way to Captain Nick. Nick is an old friend of Glory's father. He reluctantly agrees.
Later, they are shipwrecked, and temptation proves too much. The pair are in bliss until a misunderstanding happens. Glory never told Nick that Nathan was her brother. So the " I love you" was misinterpreted. So, how long will it take before he realizes his mistake? Will the pregnant Glory find someone else?
Where to begin.....
1. Glory (sometimes Gloria for some reason) is a stupid name!!! It had to be said. 🤷♀️
2. The author failed the Scarlett O'Hara type of h. Very few authors can manage that balance of likability. Glory was spoiled and selfish. Her kinder acts were lacking in real depth
3. Glory's whole personality was one dimensional. There was not much character development.
4. So we have a spoiled brat who is TSTL. Too many times, Glory endangers everybody when told no.
"You can't leave the boat to go to a dangerous pirate island."
"But everybody else is going, so I want to go too! hmm, I'm going to wear the whore costume so I'll blend in. Nobody will harass me!" 🙄
Men fall for her plans every time, too!
-Last complaint of Glory
5. The structure of the book is a problem. The plot and characters are all over the place.
6. Nick was an okay H. He has an interesting backstory, but it's not really utilized in the story. I was expecting his evil stepmom to play the villain role in the story. But no, she only makes a brief appearance. What was the point of his tale of woe? 🤷♀️
I did like that Nick was rake. The book keeps up with his man whore reputation. He leaves his boat to go to his mistress. He was wanting Glory. I mention this because I know one reviewer had a problem with this part.
7. The romance between MC is weird. He treats Glory badly, and it turns her on. She unknowingly likes having a man in control. She wanted nothing to do with him when Nick was kind to her. So they have that kind of relationship. It's not necessaryly a bad thing, I just thought I'd mention it.
8. The slave stuff. The book superficially touches on this subject.
Conclusion: I think KM phoned this book in. The story is not bad. There are some entertaining parts. My high expectations might have affected my ratings.
November 1, 2020
2.5 stars. Glory and Nicholas. This was is old school-cringe worthy -old school. Glory (Gloria) is almost raped a ton in the story.
The slavery parts were so sad to me. I did not see her dad as the nice respected guy as he is portrayed in the story. I thought he was awful. He had a son out of wedlock with one of his slaves, his overseers were permitted to use whips on his slaves, and the way he treated his family especially his wife and son. (Cheated on his wife, did not give his son, Nathan, his freedom papers.) Special note: His wife was not exactly nice towards his son either which I guess was understandable at first due to the cheating/being disrespected by her husband, but it was hard for me to like her even at the end of the story because she refused to give Nathan his freedom papers after her husband passed away.
I also thought that Glory was tstl and put herself and others in danger all throughout the story which eventually got old. The hero actions most of the time irked me too, especially when he decides to go visit a lady of the night to relieve his itch that Glory was causing.
The plus of the story is it was that it was not set in one location. In a way Glory and Nicholas deserve each other. Ha! To me, Glory's brother was the shining stars in this story.
The slavery parts were so sad to me. I did not see her dad as the nice respected guy as he is portrayed in the story. I thought he was awful. He had a son out of wedlock with one of his slaves, his overseers were permitted to use whips on his slaves, and the way he treated his family especially his wife and son. (Cheated on his wife, did not give his son, Nathan, his freedom papers.) Special note: His wife was not exactly nice towards his son either which I guess was understandable at first due to the cheating/being disrespected by her husband, but it was hard for me to like her even at the end of the story because she refused to give Nathan his freedom papers after her husband passed away.
I also thought that Glory was tstl and put herself and others in danger all throughout the story which eventually got old. The hero actions most of the time irked me too, especially when he decides to go visit a lady of the night to relieve his itch that Glory was causing.
The plus of the story is it was that it was not set in one location. In a way Glory and Nicholas deserve each other. Ha! To me, Glory's brother was the shining stars in this story.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 25, 2021
4.5 Stars. Great book for what it is and just what I was in the mood for. You have a good h and an Alpha H that has never seen much love, doesn’t trust women, makes mistakes and takes action to correct them. There is a big misunderstanding about half way through, but it’s cleared up soon. You get to watch both characters develop and struggle with building their trust. It also has a good ending where we get to see some HEA time between the couple! Kat M. is great, haven’t yet read a book of hers I haven’t really enjoyed! The good news is I have over a dozen more of her books to still read.
January 7, 2018
Have a couple tissues handy with this one. Not an all out weepy but there was a really sad part. I liked how she had all the must-have plot points for a classic bodice ripper without making into an epic 400+ page book. Any Kat Martin book is a must-read. She always has well-developed characters, fleshed out historical facts, believeable plots and lots of romance.
July 18, 2015
I don't know when this book was first published but it sure reads like one published in the 80s. It is thin on romance and uses lust, sex and jealous to fuel the relationship. I do not doubt that Nicholas and Gloria desired each other. But I seriously question whether they have had any sort of base for love and affections. I think for a shallow romance story about superficial claims of forever love and deep feelings, this book is not a complete failure. But if you are looking for a moving love story between 2 well-developed characters, skip it.
July 29, 2022
Trigger warnings for this book: sexual assault and rape, violence, death, miscarriage/pregnancy loss, slavery, period typical racism
So I’d read this book before, when I was like 11… it was my first smutty romance novel and I had fond memories of it. I decided to read it for old times sake and found that my tastes have changed a lot in the 20+ years since I first read this lol. There were so many things I disliked, I hardly know where to start.
-For a book set in the 1840s that takes place partially on a southern plantation, you expect racism, but the insensitivity with which the black characters are handled is almost startling. Every slave is described in dehumanizing terms — almost every instance where a white character interacts with a black character, it’s accompanied by some commentary on the black person’s body. The dialogue is very Gone With the Wind-esque. I found all of that uncomfortable but predictable… even worse, though, were the frequent implications that Nathan, Glory’s half brother that her father had with one of his slaves, was not deserving of the harsh treatment of slavery by virtue of his education and gentle nature — unlike the other slaves, who the book very carefully avoids looking at as people.
- I guess this is also to be expected of a romance novel of this era, but there’s a lot of misogyny. Nicholas treats Glory like shit for huge chunks of the story, but it’s not just that. The story asserts that she’s the Only Good Woman (and totally Not Like Other Girls TM). She’s the only female character who isn’t treated with constant contempt. Nicholas resents all the women he has previously had sex with. Mothers, stepmothers, and friends are all useless, selfish, and varying degrees of cruel. Even Glory, we’re frequently told, begins this story needing to be taken down a peg because she has a semblance of a personality and that’s unforgivable in a woman. Really the only female characters that get a decent amount of page time and are given personality traits beyond being Bad Women are the two sex workers aboard the ship. They, of course, are slut shamed so it’s really six of one and a half dozen of the other.
- This could almost go on with my last point, but the main thing I disliked in this book was the romantic hero Nicholas. He’s an arrogant, misogynistic prick and a great deal of what goes wrong for Glory (and in their relationship) is his fault. Upon meeting Glory, Nicholas immediately wants to teach her a lesson with his penis as punishment for the crime of being attractive and not a complete pushover. Their relationship is founded on mutual dislike and mutual attraction. Nicholas and Glory eventually get stranded together on a deserted island and start sleeping together, and things are going pretty well until Nicholas decides to purposely ruin her reputation as a punishment for having a brother. He also rapes her as punishment, and the story tries to tell you that this is actually okay because Glory’s body responds to him. An involuntary physical reaction to stimuli does not equal consent, nor does previous consent. This was rape, and the book hand waves it as Nicholas “making a mistake” because he was confused. Glory becomes pregnant, and it’s common knowledge that she’s unmarried and that Nicholas is the father; she and her aunt have to move to shelter her from the shitty way people are treating her. When Nicholas finds out she’s pregnant, he decides to blackmail her into marrying him and he resents her for not being enthusiastic about it. He does something unforgivable to her, but she’s the problem somehow. He says he’ll be patient about her forgiving him and wanting to have sex with him, says he won’t force himself on her, but then he tells her he’ll only wait so long and decide when she’s ready. The whole last quarter or so of the book is Nicholas being pissy that Glory is too traumatized by his constant mistreatment to tell him that she loves him. There were numerous times when reading this book that I screamed out loud, hoped against hope that Nicholas would just fuckin die, and held my head in my hands because I felt so frustrated that I wanted to throw the book across the room (only stopped myself because it was an ebook and I didn’t want to hurt my tablet lol).
- This book just wasn’t for me. The only reason I’m giving this book two stars instead of one is the fact that I don’t consider it poorly written. It tells the story very competently, I just got no joy from that story and almost DNFed it at least five times. I probably should have, but the morbid curiosity for how everything would resolve compelled me to keep going. If you’ve read this entire review, you may be thinking that I did this to myself (true) or that I’m taking a little trashy romance too seriously. Maybe I am, but this book was just so deeply flawed and I have to wonder if it contributed in any way to ideas I developed about love as a young person.
So I’d read this book before, when I was like 11… it was my first smutty romance novel and I had fond memories of it. I decided to read it for old times sake and found that my tastes have changed a lot in the 20+ years since I first read this lol. There were so many things I disliked, I hardly know where to start.
-For a book set in the 1840s that takes place partially on a southern plantation, you expect racism, but the insensitivity with which the black characters are handled is almost startling. Every slave is described in dehumanizing terms — almost every instance where a white character interacts with a black character, it’s accompanied by some commentary on the black person’s body. The dialogue is very Gone With the Wind-esque. I found all of that uncomfortable but predictable… even worse, though, were the frequent implications that Nathan, Glory’s half brother that her father had with one of his slaves, was not deserving of the harsh treatment of slavery by virtue of his education and gentle nature — unlike the other slaves, who the book very carefully avoids looking at as people.
- I guess this is also to be expected of a romance novel of this era, but there’s a lot of misogyny. Nicholas treats Glory like shit for huge chunks of the story, but it’s not just that. The story asserts that she’s the Only Good Woman (and totally Not Like Other Girls TM). She’s the only female character who isn’t treated with constant contempt. Nicholas resents all the women he has previously had sex with. Mothers, stepmothers, and friends are all useless, selfish, and varying degrees of cruel. Even Glory, we’re frequently told, begins this story needing to be taken down a peg because she has a semblance of a personality and that’s unforgivable in a woman. Really the only female characters that get a decent amount of page time and are given personality traits beyond being Bad Women are the two sex workers aboard the ship. They, of course, are slut shamed so it’s really six of one and a half dozen of the other.
- This could almost go on with my last point, but the main thing I disliked in this book was the romantic hero Nicholas. He’s an arrogant, misogynistic prick and a great deal of what goes wrong for Glory (and in their relationship) is his fault. Upon meeting Glory, Nicholas immediately wants to teach her a lesson with his penis as punishment for the crime of being attractive and not a complete pushover. Their relationship is founded on mutual dislike and mutual attraction. Nicholas and Glory eventually get stranded together on a deserted island and start sleeping together, and things are going pretty well until Nicholas decides to purposely ruin her reputation as a punishment for having a brother. He also rapes her as punishment, and the story tries to tell you that this is actually okay because Glory’s body responds to him. An involuntary physical reaction to stimuli does not equal consent, nor does previous consent. This was rape, and the book hand waves it as Nicholas “making a mistake” because he was confused. Glory becomes pregnant, and it’s common knowledge that she’s unmarried and that Nicholas is the father; she and her aunt have to move to shelter her from the shitty way people are treating her. When Nicholas finds out she’s pregnant, he decides to blackmail her into marrying him and he resents her for not being enthusiastic about it. He does something unforgivable to her, but she’s the problem somehow. He says he’ll be patient about her forgiving him and wanting to have sex with him, says he won’t force himself on her, but then he tells her he’ll only wait so long and decide when she’s ready. The whole last quarter or so of the book is Nicholas being pissy that Glory is too traumatized by his constant mistreatment to tell him that she loves him. There were numerous times when reading this book that I screamed out loud, hoped against hope that Nicholas would just fuckin die, and held my head in my hands because I felt so frustrated that I wanted to throw the book across the room (only stopped myself because it was an ebook and I didn’t want to hurt my tablet lol).
- This book just wasn’t for me. The only reason I’m giving this book two stars instead of one is the fact that I don’t consider it poorly written. It tells the story very competently, I just got no joy from that story and almost DNFed it at least five times. I probably should have, but the morbid curiosity for how everything would resolve compelled me to keep going. If you’ve read this entire review, you may be thinking that I did this to myself (true) or that I’m taking a little trashy romance too seriously. Maybe I am, but this book was just so deeply flawed and I have to wonder if it contributed in any way to ideas I developed about love as a young person.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 23, 2025
This was really good and keeps you entertained; though there was enough melodrama and over-the-top situations for an old Hollywood movie, but just like with a lot of those movies, you don't seem to mind.
I liked the shipwreck interlude, where the H and h have a temporary paradise, and it seems like they're on the road to a HEA, but of course, they take a wrong turn!
This book was also a switch from the norm, as this time it was the H who sees and hears something, misunderstands, and then apparently changes his feelings/attitude toward the h. (How many times have we seen that happen the other way around???) In this case, he thinks the h's half-brother is her lover! (Yikes!!) And while he doesn't literally run away (as so many h's do under those circumstances) he figuratively does by parting ways with the h, in kind of a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" way, leaving her heartbroken.
This H had a lot of issues with women, due to both his mother and stepmother; the former chose her lover over the H and his father, the latter treated the H like crap, and had no use for him once his brother was born. Also, the women he got involved with were mostly shallow and self-centered, women who had no problem cheating on their husbands with him. So, it was hard for him to believe that the h was any different, and he was quick to think the worst of her.
Now, there are points where things get a bit ridiculous, like when the h stays with her aunt (having to leave town after her affair with the H became gossip), discovers she's pregnant, poses as a widow, and a neighborhood gentleman (the OM, and fellow supporter of the Underground railroad) falls for her and offers her marriage. While that was kind and unselfish, it turned silly when the H shows up (having regretted his behavior and told by his younger brother of her pregnancy) and, after learning he's the father and wants both the h and their child, the OM says he still wants to marry her and ends up challenging the H to a duel, even though the h (though feeling trapped and still resentful) agreed to marry the H! In the 19th c, the OM would step aside, not say he wanted to marry a woman carrying another man's child, when that man was there to do the right thing!
Even more silly, was the h (knowing she still loved the H) saying she wanted to marry the OM, whom she never thought of as more than a friend. True, she felt she couldn't trust the H (and rightfully so), and suspected he wanted only the baby, not her, but again, in the 19thc, an unmarried pregnant woman would marry the baby's father ASAP, and NOT some other man. No matter how nonconformist the h is, that was just too much!
It was kind of funny when she attempted to stop the duel and goes to the meeting place, pregnant and brandishing a gun! Trying to stop men from shooting each other by threatening to shoot them??? WHAT??? (Anyway, the gun wasn't loaded.)
The rest of the story (until the melodrama at the end) is more realistic, with the h knowing she never stopped loving the H and never will, but afraid to tell him because she thinks she can't trust him. He, meanwhile, tells her he loves her, is sorry for believing the worst of her and tarnishing her reputation (which is soon repaired) but she's still afraid to trust him and holds back saying those three words.
It doesn't help matters when the OW (the H's former mistress) shows up and, despite her husband being there, makes it clear she'd like to resume their former relationship.
And I don't see why the author had to make the h lose the baby! Since there was already a strain between them, it wasn't necessary to add that, just to make things temporarily worse. It seemed cruel to me.
I liked the parts about the Underground Railroad, and the h helping to hide fugitive slaves. (Her half-brother was one of them, needing to escape from the h's plantation home after their father's death, as her vindictive mother wouldn't acknowledge that her late husband gave his son his freedom and wanted him sold). It makes you sick to think of all the buying/selling of people, let alone the way they were treated half the time. if I were around back then, I'd have become involved with the UR, too!
The H, having business dealings with some southerners he felt he couldn't afford to offend, told the h he couldn't help her, but he wouldn't hinder her, either. I like the way that didn't become an issue between them, just a difference they accepted. (He did help her brother out, to make amends for what he'd thought and how he treated him when he saw him as a rival.)
The end is loaded with the kind of stuff you'd find in a dime novel, way over the top but still fun to read, except for one thing that I object to! When a slave catcher after her brother kidnaps the h and attempts to rape her TWICE (she stabs him in the shoulder the first time, the H rescues her the second) and is later arrested (but not before telling her he wished he had accomplished what he started), she actually hopes the law isn't too tough on him!
WHAT!!!!! Maybe she's thinking he's a young guy and can be redeemed, and maybe she's the compassionate type, but COME ON!!! The guy tried to rape her TWICE, and she's worried about him???? Nobody' s that compassionate!!!
Well, both the H and h had to work for their HEA (major trust issues there) but I'd say they both earned it!
Definitely worth reading!
I liked the shipwreck interlude, where the H and h have a temporary paradise, and it seems like they're on the road to a HEA, but of course, they take a wrong turn!
This book was also a switch from the norm, as this time it was the H who sees and hears something, misunderstands, and then apparently changes his feelings/attitude toward the h. (How many times have we seen that happen the other way around???) In this case, he thinks the h's half-brother is her lover! (Yikes!!) And while he doesn't literally run away (as so many h's do under those circumstances) he figuratively does by parting ways with the h, in kind of a "wham, bam, thank you ma'am" way, leaving her heartbroken.
This H had a lot of issues with women, due to both his mother and stepmother; the former chose her lover over the H and his father, the latter treated the H like crap, and had no use for him once his brother was born. Also, the women he got involved with were mostly shallow and self-centered, women who had no problem cheating on their husbands with him. So, it was hard for him to believe that the h was any different, and he was quick to think the worst of her.
Now, there are points where things get a bit ridiculous, like when the h stays with her aunt (having to leave town after her affair with the H became gossip), discovers she's pregnant, poses as a widow, and a neighborhood gentleman (the OM, and fellow supporter of the Underground railroad) falls for her and offers her marriage. While that was kind and unselfish, it turned silly when the H shows up (having regretted his behavior and told by his younger brother of her pregnancy) and, after learning he's the father and wants both the h and their child, the OM says he still wants to marry her and ends up challenging the H to a duel, even though the h (though feeling trapped and still resentful) agreed to marry the H! In the 19th c, the OM would step aside, not say he wanted to marry a woman carrying another man's child, when that man was there to do the right thing!
Even more silly, was the h (knowing she still loved the H) saying she wanted to marry the OM, whom she never thought of as more than a friend. True, she felt she couldn't trust the H (and rightfully so), and suspected he wanted only the baby, not her, but again, in the 19thc, an unmarried pregnant woman would marry the baby's father ASAP, and NOT some other man. No matter how nonconformist the h is, that was just too much!
It was kind of funny when she attempted to stop the duel and goes to the meeting place, pregnant and brandishing a gun! Trying to stop men from shooting each other by threatening to shoot them??? WHAT??? (Anyway, the gun wasn't loaded.)
The rest of the story (until the melodrama at the end) is more realistic, with the h knowing she never stopped loving the H and never will, but afraid to tell him because she thinks she can't trust him. He, meanwhile, tells her he loves her, is sorry for believing the worst of her and tarnishing her reputation (which is soon repaired) but she's still afraid to trust him and holds back saying those three words.
It doesn't help matters when the OW (the H's former mistress) shows up and, despite her husband being there, makes it clear she'd like to resume their former relationship.
And I don't see why the author had to make the h lose the baby! Since there was already a strain between them, it wasn't necessary to add that, just to make things temporarily worse. It seemed cruel to me.
I liked the parts about the Underground Railroad, and the h helping to hide fugitive slaves. (Her half-brother was one of them, needing to escape from the h's plantation home after their father's death, as her vindictive mother wouldn't acknowledge that her late husband gave his son his freedom and wanted him sold). It makes you sick to think of all the buying/selling of people, let alone the way they were treated half the time. if I were around back then, I'd have become involved with the UR, too!
The H, having business dealings with some southerners he felt he couldn't afford to offend, told the h he couldn't help her, but he wouldn't hinder her, either. I like the way that didn't become an issue between them, just a difference they accepted. (He did help her brother out, to make amends for what he'd thought and how he treated him when he saw him as a rival.)
The end is loaded with the kind of stuff you'd find in a dime novel, way over the top but still fun to read, except for one thing that I object to! When a slave catcher after her brother kidnaps the h and attempts to rape her TWICE (she stabs him in the shoulder the first time, the H rescues her the second) and is later arrested (but not before telling her he wished he had accomplished what he started), she actually hopes the law isn't too tough on him!
WHAT!!!!! Maybe she's thinking he's a young guy and can be redeemed, and maybe she's the compassionate type, but COME ON!!! The guy tried to rape her TWICE, and she's worried about him???? Nobody' s that compassionate!!!
Well, both the H and h had to work for their HEA (major trust issues there) but I'd say they both earned it!
Definitely worth reading!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 17, 2011
Have a couple tissues handy with this one. Not an all out weepy but there was a really sad part. I liked how she had all the must-have plot points for a classic bodice ripper without making into an epic 400+ page book.
August 7, 2008
Any Kat Martin book is a must-read. She always has well-developed characters, fleshed out historical facts, believeable plots and lots of romance.
March 27, 2013
first half- pretty good
second half- pretty lame
second half- pretty lame
December 10, 2023
Fantastic book.
I loved this book and couldn’t stop reading. Loved the chemistry between Glory and Nicholas. He really fights his feelings. He doesn’t trust very well and finds himself very jealous. I ended up crying so hard and loved being so emotionally invested in this book. This book is worth the reading. Thankfully they finally get their happy ever after. I highly recommend this book.
I loved this book and couldn’t stop reading. Loved the chemistry between Glory and Nicholas. He really fights his feelings. He doesn’t trust very well and finds himself very jealous. I ended up crying so hard and loved being so emotionally invested in this book. This book is worth the reading. Thankfully they finally get their happy ever after. I highly recommend this book.
August 17, 2020
3.5 stars. This was a super compelling read with a huge amount of questionable behavior and trigger warning worthy material, a super spoiled heroine that gets herself into and others into terrible situations, and a hero who is a giant rake/jackass.
Why must everything be described as a velvet corridor? Have these people ever actually felt velvet??
Why must everything be described as a velvet corridor? Have these people ever actually felt velvet??
June 4, 2025
great story
August 20, 2015
Reading this book was just like watching soap opera. Sooo much drama and everything just happened so fast. It kept me intrigued yes, but I became detached to the characters because I haven't had the time to really feel what happened to them then suddenly it's another situation. And some of the characters felt like they exist just for the sake of the plot and I can't really see them as living breathing human being.
But I can't put the book down before it's finished. It's a fun read.
But there's one thing that's really bother me. Spoilers ahead.
Glory and Nathan was captured by slave hunters and was forced to returned to the plantation. One of the slave hunter had an unhealthy obsession over Glory, making unwanted sexual advances towards her, despite other slave hunters disapproval. He almost raped her on the ship to the plantation and she stabbed him but the injury wasn't fatal. He attempted to rape her again at the plantation and almost succeeded but Nicholas managed to save her in time. Later we found out that he only got a light sentence. And here's what bothered me:
' "Since he’d been in no other trouble, there was a chance he would receive a light sentence."
Glory hoped so. In some ways, as
Lester Fields had said, he wasn’t a bad sort.'
WTH? He wasn't a bad sort after he almost raped you twice??
But I can't put the book down before it's finished. It's a fun read.
But there's one thing that's really bother me. Spoilers ahead.
Glory and Nathan was captured by slave hunters and was forced to returned to the plantation. One of the slave hunter had an unhealthy obsession over Glory, making unwanted sexual advances towards her, despite other slave hunters disapproval. He almost raped her on the ship to the plantation and she stabbed him but the injury wasn't fatal. He attempted to rape her again at the plantation and almost succeeded but Nicholas managed to save her in time. Later we found out that he only got a light sentence. And here's what bothered me:
' "Since he’d been in no other trouble, there was a chance he would receive a light sentence."
Glory hoped so. In some ways, as
Lester Fields had said, he wasn’t a bad sort.'
WTH? He wasn't a bad sort after he almost raped you twice??
July 30, 2025
Dnf 20%
This was boring. No chemistry.
The h’s father invites the H to his daughter’s 19th birthday party. The father wants the H to marry his daughter. Although H is attracted to the h, he doesn’t want to get stuck in a marriage. The Hh keep on hating each other (which looked fake). He thinks she is a spoiled princess. And she thinks he is rude and all.
I didn’t feel any chemistry. There was this forced hate. H was not in a chase mode. When she comes on his ship he does some chasing, I guess (didn’t go that far in the book). So he didn’t really do anything at the start. The h herself comes to him in a golden platter.
Also I hated when the h tries to race with the H to show him attitude but falls down and makes an embarrassing scene. So what’s the use of the hate game if she is to be embarrassed.
I mostly don’t like books where H doesn’t go all the way to attract the h.
Boring.
This was boring. No chemistry.
The h’s father invites the H to his daughter’s 19th birthday party. The father wants the H to marry his daughter. Although H is attracted to the h, he doesn’t want to get stuck in a marriage. The Hh keep on hating each other (which looked fake). He thinks she is a spoiled princess. And she thinks he is rude and all.
I didn’t feel any chemistry. There was this forced hate. H was not in a chase mode. When she comes on his ship he does some chasing, I guess (didn’t go that far in the book). So he didn’t really do anything at the start. The h herself comes to him in a golden platter.
Also I hated when the h tries to race with the H to show him attitude but falls down and makes an embarrassing scene. So what’s the use of the hate game if she is to be embarrassed.
I mostly don’t like books where H doesn’t go all the way to attract the h.
Boring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2013
Main plot: Lack of communication! I could have cheerfully punched to hero for treating the heroine like crap because of a misunderstanding that could have been easily cleared up if he'd simply taken the time to just ask one simple question and not jump to conclusions! I also felt like he didn't do enough grovelling to get the heroine back! It wasn't all bad though but it could have been better...
September 6, 2014
Half men wanted heroine. =.=
September 19, 2014
the story was promising but unfortunately I hated the repetitive writing style,the long descriptions and morning ablutions repeated throughout the book.
April 18, 2017
I love Kat Martin books. Captain's Bride kept me reading. I couldn't
put it down. I seem to be that way with all her books. Great Read!!!
put it down. I seem to be that way with all her books. Great Read!!!
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