The Handmaiden's Necklace »

For New York Times bestselling author Kat Martin, a career in real estate led her down the road to romance.

Through real estate, Kat found her own perfect match—her husband, Western author Larry Jay Martin.

"We were on opposing sides of a transaction—I represented the seller and he represented the buyer," Kat recalls.

A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written.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!

"It was quite a romantic story," she admits. "I'd still like to see it get published." Then, after doing some editing for her future husband, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing.

Kat moved on to become the bestselling author of over thirty historical and contemporary romance novels. To date, 10 million copies of her books are in print, and she's been published around the globe, including Germany, Norway, Sweden, China, Korea, Bulgaria, Russia, England, South Africa, Italy, Spain, Argentina and Greece.

When she's not writing, Kat also enjoys skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe. Currently, she's busy writing her next book.

Five years ago, Rafael, Duke of Sheffield, believed he was betrayed by the woman he loved and the pain haunts him still. When Rafe discovers that he was cruelly tricked and that Danielle Duval was never unfaithful, he's desperate to win her back. But Dani is already on a steamer bound for America to marry another man. Impulsively, Rafe follows her and, trapping her in a compromising situation, quickly makes her his wife.

Promising her that with time he can prove his love and win her trust, Rafe presents her with a stunning necklace rumored to hold great power. As much as Dani wants to believe it can right the wrongs of the past, she fears there is one truth it cannot conceal, a truth that could cost her this second chance with Rafe, the only man she has ever loved….

Publishers Weekly

In the fast-paced final volume of Martin's Regency trilogy that began with The Bride's Necklace, Danielle Duval and Rafael, Duke of Sheffield, meet again in London, five years after scandal ended their engagement. When Rafe investigates and learns that he and Dani were victims of a plot to prevent their marriage, he pursues Dani to America, where she's traveling to wed another. Repeated episodes of romantic tension lead to sizzling love scenes, but Rafe's constant distrust of Dani and his use of blackmail to force her to marry him make him come across as a little too high-handed and arrogant. The author's well-honed ability to deliver spicy romance is undercut by a hero with whom most readers will find it hard to believe the heroine will live happily-ever-after. (Jan.) Copyright 2005 Reed Business Information.