The Handmaiden's Necklace

'The Handmaiden's necklace' by Kat Martin is a fantanisic Historical Romance. The Bride's Necklace is a thirteenth century pearl diamond necklace that has the legal that if the owner has pure heart that they will have good fortune and love. This necklace has been past along through out the series. This necklace was given to the Duke in hopes that he would find true love. The story begins with the Duke engaged but his ex-fiance resurfaced five years later after a terrible scandal. The story has nice mix of romance, mystery and heartache. I loved the series and they just got better and better. The Bride's Necklace (1) The Devil's Necklace (2) The Handmaiden's Necklace(3).

Although at times I really wanted to smack Rafe, after all he was the one that wrongly did not not trust Dani the first time around and still he continues throughout the book to not trust her. That was the only part I was not happy with. I guess it was heart he did not trust because he wrongly thought she had cheated on him 5 years before and he was so severely wounded by Dani that he kept his heart totally locked up. Immediately when he realizes how he misjudged Dani, they were both duped by an enemy, he goes all the way to America to find her and make things right. I do not condemn him for the way he forced her to marry him - she would never have beleived what he had learned about her American fiance Richard, and the clock was ticking on that marriage. So he forces her to marry, although he does not force her to bed. Here is where you can still see the strong feelings he has for Dani, and of course she for him When a couple has an intense passion I do not believe it ever dies - no matter what. This book really is very intense at times, as were the previous books. I love Martin's ability to write the sensual scenes and make them deeply believable! After missing out on 5 years it was sad to see this couple still struggle with forgiveness and trust. Of course when the threat of complete seperatation by death is finally dealt to Rafe he absolutely realizes how much he has always loved his dear Dani! What a wonderful scene with his mother at the end too - some parents do actually want love for their children. The secondary romance was a good bonus as were the addition of Rafe's friends and their wives. All in all this was a superb ending to the trilogy and I strongly recommend this book and the others previous!!

My opinion is along the same lines as the other reviewers. I was greatly anticipating this book and was disappointed. I love the "childhood sweathearts" premise and had high hopes for Kat Martin's latest. I felt the conflict of unrequitted love was resolved too quickly. Danielle didn't make him grovel for her affections. Also, the book's other conflict is based on "the BIG misunderstanding" which I do not like. As in her other more recent efforts, the love scenes are sensual, but too contrived. The development and quite frankly the positions of which they make love occur at the same time as in her other books. I don't want to spoil it by saying exactly what I'm referring to, but any other avid Kat Martin fans know what I am speaking of. Not my favorite book, but not a complete dud.

Rafael Saunders finds a note written by his fiancée Danielle Duval asking his friend Oliver Randall to come to her room tonight. Stunned Rafael arrives at Danielle's room to find a naked Oliver in bed with her. He like everyone else blames Danielle for the scandal though she swears she is innocent. She remained in hiding for five years, but two weeks before going to America to marry her new fiancé businessman, Richard Clemens in Philadelphia, her beloved Aunt Flora coaxes Danielle to make an appearance amidst the ton. Rafael attends the same bash. He angrily asks why the betrayal, but she still insists she is innocent and that he betrayed her. Stunned Rafael hires Bow St. runner Joseph McPhee to learn the truth; two weeks later, Joseph reports that Oliver hates Rafael, duped him, and that Danielle told the truth. He wounds Oliver in a duel, but Danielle has left for America. Rafael pursues the one woman whom he loves not knowing whether he can overcome the mistakes he perpetrated on his beloved. The circumstantial evidence that condemned his beloved five years ago haunts Rafael, as he realizes how much he allowed Oliver to dupe him, which in turn makes him a less than sympathetic protagonist, but perfect for this deep Regency romance. Thus the audience empathizes with the unfairly scarlet lettered female who hopefully will find happiness in America. Oliver's plan seems weak as he destroys two lives without a blink, but also assumes somehow he will win Danielle's hand. Still historical romance fans will appreciate this fine tale starring a mortified lead male trying to overcome all the mistakes he caused when he failed to follow up on his beloved's crying pain of innocence. Harriet Klausner

After five years the pain of betrayal by the woman he'd once loved ate at Rafael, Duke of Sheffield. He'd vowed to never love again and open himself up to that unbearable pain. Seeing Danielle Duval at a soiree benefit, the rage he felt came back to him with a vengeance. When Danielle's eyes caught his the anger she directed right back at him was comparable. The anger masked the pain in her heart for deep down she still loved him, though she would never forgive him his lack of faith and loyalty to her. Discovering that he and Dani had both been cruelly tricked Rafael was desperate to make amends to not only restoring Dani's reputation with the ton but also, more importantly, to win her back. Unfortunately, by the time he got around to seeking her out she had left for America to marry a wealthy widower. With the famous `Bride's Necklace' given to him by his friend and not believing that she was marrying for love, Rafe blackmailed her into canceling her wedding to the American. He swore that by marrying him he would prove to her his love. Deep down Dani wanted to believe even though she carried a secret that could destroy any second chance at love. In the final book of the Bride's Necklace trilogy, she delivers another stunning action packed sensual Regency delight. Rafe and Dani were a fabulous couple fashioned with emotion, heart and a sizzling sensual chemistry that was delivered hot and tasty. The mystery of who was trying to kill both Dani and Rafe, with numerous red herrings thrown into the mix, was handled with edge of the seat anxiety delivering a true cliff hanger ending. Martin again gifts her legions of fans with another masterfully told passionate and fast-paced Regency that I highly recommend.