Kat Martin, Heart of Fire

Heart of Fire

Kat Martin

In 1844 Coralee Whitmore rejects the official position that her older half-sister Laurel committed suicide. Instead knowing in her heart that was preposterous, Coralee, the society editor of Heart to Heart ladies gazette, decides to apply her reporter skills to prove her sibling did not kill herself by going undercover to investigate.

She pretends to be an impoverished relation Letty, who asks the Earl of Fremaine to give her shelter as she believes Gray is at the top of the list of suspects who might have a motive to kill her sister. Instead of a cold blooded killer, Letty finds her host kind and caring. The gentle aristocrat hides his inner turmoil caused by the death of his wife from his guest. As they fall in love with the respective mask each wears to hide the real person, Letty begins to wonder who should be next on her list of potential killers while Gray feels he does not deserve a second chance especially with the nurturing Letty.

HEART OF FIRE is an enjoyable early Victorian romantic whodunit. The mystery is cleverly devised so that every clue re what happened to Laurel either affirms she took her own life or Gray is involved. However, the fun in this fine historical is the changing relationship between the lead couple; as they fall in love they begin to uncover the secrets of the other leading to trust issues. Kat Martin is in top form with this terrific tale.

Harriet Klausner