Rating: 
Summary: More like "The Fire Died"
Review: I read Hot Rain, Martin's contemporary romance, so I wasn't expecting much in the way of plot. However, the characters in Hot Rain did maintain great chemistry, which unfortunately was not the case for The Fire Inside. The hero and heroine begin with a sizzle, even though their verbal battles weren't near as fascinating to me as other reviewers seemed to find them (The heroine says "You're incorrigable!" several times throughout the book). The chemistry dies off about halfway through the book, and to make it worse, the heroine is a complete [...]. I had to throw the book down when Kitt came breezing back to London expecting Clay to simply forgive and forget the fact she had left for months on end without an explanation. I can't tell you how the book ended (I couldn't bear to finish it), but I can probably guess. If you're in the mood for a coookie-cutter romance, go ahead, but I felt compelled to warn everyone...
Rating:
Summary: More like "The Fire Died"
Review: I read this second book of the trilogy out of sync - unfortunately - but found myself to be totally enchanted once more by Kat Martin's plots, and characters. Of course, this book, does stand quite well on its own merits and if you do read it out of sync with the other two, no matter. But seeing as how I had read Heartless first, I was already, waiting ANXIOUSLY for Clay's story, because he was such a drop dead gloriously handsome guy, even if he was the worst sort of rake. Of course we all know that rakes do make the best husbands once they've been caught.It took a little hellcat, like Kassandra (Kitt) Wentworth to first capture his attention and `light his fire' she most certainly did although he was loathe to admit it. Kitt and Clay were the original oil and water mix. They had known each other for years and Clay did admit a grudging admiration for the little spitfire who created one scandal after another. He even found a certain enjoyment in goading her on. It was one such escapade, where they found themselves in a very high stakes game, in which she recklessly won then lost a fortune. Her father hearing of this latest scandal, laid down the law, by first locking her in her room for two weeks and demanding she select a suitor to marry within two months or she would be sent to a convent for the next four years. Clay hating to admit it, found himself thinking of her more and more often and enjoying his other female conquests less and less, so when the opportunity to trick her into a wedding - she vowed never to wed - arose, he conspired with her father and managed to wed her. Clay was so in love that he agreed to not push her into consummating the marriage until she was ready. With great care and pain on his part he was able to break through her defenses after discovering her tragic secret - and if nothing else she began to trust him and to her great horror, she realized she had begun to love him. Where this story broke down for me, was when Kitt, realizing she loved Clay, ran away because she didn't want to have her heart broken when he tired of her and would surely take a mistress. Kitt being the spitfire in the beginning, became a wimp! I was very upset that she didn't realize that the tenderness and care he gave should have shown her how much he cared. I confess I was not happy here. The fight back to regain Clays trust and love was quite good and then when Clay almost lost her to an old enemy, he finally was ready to admit his love and begin to trust again. The introduction to Adam Hawthorne, Earl of Blackwood, and inclusion of him as a secondary character is wonderful and sets the stage for the third book of this trilogy - Fanning the Flame. All in all, this is a great series, well worth the read and highly recommended
Rating: 
Summary: If you like your hero's SEXY... then this is for you!
Review: I read this second book of the trilogy out of sync - unfortunately - but found myself to be totally enchanted once more by Kat Martin's plots, and characters. Of course, this book, does stand quite well on its own merits and if you do read it out of sync with the other two, no matter. But seeing as how I had read Heartless first, I was already, waiting ANXIOUSLY for Clay's story, because he was such a drop dead gloriously handsome guy, even if he was the worst sort of rake. Of course we all know that rakes do make the best husbands once they've been caught. It took a little hellcat, like Kassandra (Kitt) Wentworth to first capture his attention and 'light his fire' she most certainly did although he was loathe to admit it. Kitt and Clay were the original oil and water mix. They had known each other for years and Clay did admit a grudging admiration for the little spitfire who created one scandal after another. He even found a certain enjoyment in goading her on. It was one such escapade, where they found themselves in a very high stakes game, in which she recklessly won then lost a fortune. Her father hearing of this latest scandal, laid down the law, by first locking her in her room for two weeks and demanding she select a suitor to marry within two months or she would be sent to a convent for the next four years. Clay hating to admit it, found himself thinking of her more and more often and enjoying his other female conquests less and less, so when the opportunity to trick her into a wedding - she vowed never to wed - arose, he conspired with her father and managed to wed her. Clay was so in love that he agreed to not push her into consummating the marriage until she was ready. With great care and pain on his part he was able to break through her defenses after discovering her tragic secret - and if nothing else she began to trust him and to her great horror, she realized she had begun to love him. Where this story broke down for me, was when Kitt, realizing she loved Clay, ran away because she didn't want to have her heart broken when he tired of her and would surely take a mistress. Kitt being the spitfire in the beginning, became a wimp! I was very upset that she didn't realize that the tenderness and care he gave should have shown her how much he cared. I confess I was not happy here. The fight back to regain Clays trust and love was quite good and then when Clay almost lost her to an old enemy, he finally was ready to admit his love and begin to trust again. The introduction to Adam Hawthorne, Earl of Blackwood, and inclusion of him as a secondary character is wonderful and sets the stage for the third book of this trilogy - Fanning the Flame. All in all, this is a great series, well worth the read and highly recommended
Rating:
Summary: A true romance story
Review: I thought this book was just lovely unlike most romances that always make us feel all the tension even before the characters developed i thought this had a little of everything although Clay and Kitt love each other and don't really acknowledge it the way the story is written it makes us understand why it is difficult for them to love and i have to say most of the time in most books it is hard to actually understand why the characters find it hard to commit but in this case we do understand i like Kat Martin but i think this is the best book by far.i feel confident in giving her all five stars.
Rating: 
Summary: Less Fire than Expected but Good Glow
Review: I was very much looking forward to reading the love story of the two characters, Clayton Harcourt and Kitt Wentworth, from Heartless, where the two are presented in an intriguing way as secondary characters. What I expected was much more of the witty reparteeing that I saw in the previous romance, but alas, the squabbling rarely gets to the witty level, though there is romantic tension between the two in this story. This aside, my main problem with this novel is the way Kassandra is characterized. I realize that the tragic incident in her past leads her to behave as she does, but this story relies too much on her so-called "headstrong" nature without showing too much of it in a interesting, positive or believable light, particularly her fleeing when she does to the continent. It was hard to suspend my disbelief in that portion of the tale. This creates a problem in the love relationship for me, since I really loved the character of Clayton and felt he deserved so much better! That is what he himself thinks of course, but the point is for us to see his mistake in perception and root for the lovers to get back together. Clayton carries the day, nonetheless, in this story, with his sexy warmth--a nice break from the preternaturally cool hero--and his reasonable responses, which made him more realistic and likeable than many a silly hero who just doesn't "get it" in reacting to the antics of their love interest. I just wish the story had done more justice to him, and even her--there was more promise to her character in Heartless than panned out here. Finally, I found the plot a bit thin, which made the romance blander than it should have been for me. Still, it was enjoyable to read in a low-paced kind of way, and I recommend it for a leisurely read!
Rating:
Summary: Enjoyable Regency romance
Review: In 1805 London, the Ton concludes that Lady Kassandra "Kitt" Wentworth is too reckless for any respectable man to marry even if she is the daughter of a viscount. That is fine as far as Kitt is concerned as she refuses to bow to any male including her father just because society rigidly insists she must. Duh! Kitt believes that is all a female can expect from a nation ruled exclusively by males.
Clayton Harcourt, heir to a dukedom, has no plans to wed in the foreseeable future until he meets Kitt. He finds her wild behavior intoxicating, but he also sees beneath the veneer to her vulnerability. Clayton wants to hold her until she realizes that whatever her secret is that has forced her to don a mask of not caring what others think, his hugs will always be there. Though they fall in love, he worries about ever cracking the shell that keeps them from a lifetime of happiness.
Kat Martin, one of the top authors of Regency romances, enhances her high esteem of entertaining the sub-genre fans with her latest novel, THE FIRE INSIDE. The story line is exciting as Clayton sets his strategic goal, mounts a campaign, and deals with setbacks by revising his plan without losing sight of his mission. Though readers will want to adopt this caring hunk, Clayton's actions tend to limit the strife between he and Kitt. Still as only Ms. Martin can induce out of her audience, readers will feel Kitt's obvious defenselessness in spite of her shield, and hope she can finally open up to her beloved. Harriet Klausner
Rating:
Summary: what a wonderful book
Review: it makes you wish you lived back than. I fell in love with the characters. I hope all her books are as good as this one
Rating:
Summary: Another winner
Review: Kat Martin delivers with this new book. Clay and Kitt's conversations are edgy and sensual at the same time. It's a great way to spend a long evening. Can't wait for the next book by Martin.
Rating: 
Summary: Where Was the Author?
Review: Kat Martin has written some very good books. This book is not one of them. It has neither well-developed characters (to call them one-note would be giving them more resonance than they have) nor a credible plot. Good cookbooks have more genuine passion. I hope she was producing (not writing) this disappointment while on autopilot thinking about a forthcoming novel worty of her skills.
Rating:
Summary: Couldn't put it down!
Review: Reading Kat Martin again was a real pleasure. The story of Kitt and Clay was really intriguing with the twists and turns. When two people meet and there is an instant flaring of the senses, you know that it is only a matter of time before the sparks fly and passion ignites. This was the kind of book I just couldn't put down. I read it in line at the supermarket, gas station and even at a long red light. I am really looking forward to her next book. Fanning the Flame that is due to be released in August 2002. Way to go, Kat. Keep 'em coming.
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