"Disappointing Regency Sequel"

THE FIRE INSIDE is the sequel to HEARTLESS and centers on Clay Harcourt who was introduced in HEARTLESS. Clay is a charming, rich man who is the toast of the ton even though he is a bastard. Clay harbors resentments about his Duke father's failure to recognize him as his son.

Lady Kassandra (Kitt) Wentworth is a hoyden who has a tendency to disguise herself in men's pants and race around on her own with no escort oblivious to scandal or danger. Kitt also, has a great secret that has kept her from wanting to marry. Clay, for his part is well aware of Kitt's scandalous behavior, but agrees to marry her at the request of his father. Besides she is beautiful and the more Clay sees her the more he wants to bed her. Clay then proceeds to trick Kitt into marrying him.

To this point this is a standard Regency story, but what follows is a series of misunderstandings, stupid and unfeeling behavior on Kitt's part and a great deal of justifiable anger from Clay.

Clay is a bit dense about the event in Kitt's past that kept her from wanting to marry and should have listened more carefully when she tried to tell him. But,the real problem with the book is Kitt. She is ultimately not likeable due to her reckless behavior and her leaving Clay while he was hurt. For me this was unforgiveable. Perhaps it would have been easier to swallow if it hadn' t been for an illogical reason that served no purpose but to separate the pair and make Kitt have to work hard to get Clay to forgive her.

The happy-everafter ending is not believable as it would have been impossible under the laws of inheritance in England at that time. Perhaps if I had liked the couple better I would not have noticed this glaring error, but it stuck out in this disappointing book. It was especially a disappointment for me as I am a big fan of Martin's contemporary romantic suspense books.

Linda Hurst

Reviewed by Linda Hurst
Posted March 9, 2002