From Publishers Weekly
Martin's (The Secret; Perfect Sin) strongly drawn portrait of two vulnerable people picking their way through the tangles of love is certain to please her fans. Upon the Earl of Greville's death in 1802, his newly legitimized bastard son, Justin Ross, inherits the Greville estates as well as Ariel Summers, a plucky girl who had pledged to become his father's mistress in exchange for schooling on how to be a lady. Though he has little interest in making Ariel consummate the bargain, when she finally graduates and comes to live with him, Justin finds his intentions skewed by his attraction to her bright spirit and his dislike of her friendship with his worst enemy. And despite Ariel's own determination to repay her debt without becoming Justin's mistress, she soon discovers her heart has different ideas. But Justin's mistrust of Ariel's loyalty and her fear that he is incapable of love threaten to pull the pair apart. Martin's villains aren't much more than cardboard, but Ariel and Justin push beyond the stereotypes of the fresh, innocent girl and the emotionally distant rake, fleshing out into nicely rounded characters. The narrative also displays an unusual sensitivity as it explores beyond a couple's hormonal compatibility and tackles the more complex wonder of enduring love. (May)Forecast: Sales in the contemporary romance/suspense field have exploded in recent years, and like many popular romance authors, Martin sagely alternates her offerings between historicals and contemporaries. But Martin's dedicated audience comes from her historicals, and this title will fare quite well.Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.


From Booklist
Early nineteenth-century England doesn't offer many opportunities for a woman to change her station in life, but this doesn't deter young Ariel Summers. Living with her abusive father in a cottage as tenants of the Earl of Greville, she dreams of one day being a fine lady. She makes an unusual bargain with the Earl and he accepts, but, unbeknownst to Ariel, he dies, making their bargain the responsibility of his bastard son and heir, Justin Ross. What follows when Justin and Ariel meet is a tale full of misunderstandings and unspoken needs and desires. Both, of course, have mistaken impressions of the other. Justin longs for Ariel but fights the attraction. Ariel, especially, cannot get a clear picture of Justin because his brooding personality hides his true nature. She continually wavers between wanting and hating him, making the reader wish she or he could take Ariel by the shoulders and shake her into making up her mind and giving Justin a break. Maria Hatton
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved


Review
"Kat Martin dishes up sizzling passion and true love, then she serves it with savoir faire."--Los Angeles Daily News



Book Description
To escape her life of poverty as a tenant farmer's daughter, Ariel Summers made a bargain with the devil--she would become the Earl of Greville's mistress in exchange for the schooling and refinements of a lady. But she couldn't foresee the earl's timely death, or her own disturbing attraction to his bastard son and heir, Justin Ross.

Justin never meant to demand payment from the tempting young woman his father had so callously planned to ruin. But her innocent allure provoked his ruthless nature and he vowed he would have her in his bed.

Seduction was his plan, but Justin never suspected Ariel's innocent passion would awaken emotions he had long believe dead. Now mistrust and betrayal threaten the fragile happiness the two of them have found, and Justin must convince. Ariel he isn't the heartless man she believes.



About the Author
Award-winning, bestselling author KAT MARTIN currently resides in Missoula, Montana, and loves history, travel, and snow skiing. More than six million copies of her books are in print and she is published in a dozen foreign countries.

FROM OUR EDITORS

It didn't take long for suave, sexy crooner Ben Estes to figure out that Sofia Cardinella was beautiful, funny, captivating — and trouble. She loved his singing and thought he was hot — but she was losing him gigs. Her father, a minor league mafioso who thought Old Blue Eyes was sacred, had sicced a pair of goons on him after only one song of Ben's tribute to Frank Sinatra. Sofia was used to ignoring her papa's wishes where men were concerned. She loved him dearly — but she'd left his chosen groom standing at the altar three times already. Sofia assured Ben that he was perfectly safe — but she also suggested sharing a whirlwind jaunt to California until Papa's temper cooled down. Their trip got off to a terrific start (good weather, fine food, great sex, and blossoming love). But, when the bumbling hit men joined the party, marriage was the only solution — because the only hit Ben wanted was the kind that came with a recording contract, and Sofia's love was all the inspiration he'd ever need for that. Fly Me to the Moon is a racy romp with a madcap cast of characters.

FROM THE PUBLISHER

To escape her life of poverty as a tenant farmer's daughter, Ariel Summers made a bargain with the devil-she would become the Earl of Greville's mistress in exchange for the schooling and refinements of a lady. But she couldn't foresee the earl's untimely death, or her own disturbing attraction to his bastard son and heir, Justin Ross.

Justin Ross never meant to demand payment from the tempting young woman his father had so callously planned to ruin. But her innocent allure provoked his ruthless nature, and he vowed he would have her in his bed.

Seduction was his plan, but Justin never suspected Ariel's innocent passion would awaken emotions he had long believed dead. Now mistrust and betrayal threaten the fragile happiness the two of them have found, and Justin must convince Ariel he isn't the heartless man she believes.

And he will risk his very life to prove his love.

Author Biography: Award-winning, bestselling author KAT MARTIN currently resides in Missoula, Montana, and loves history, travel, and snow skiing. More than six million copies of her books are in print and she is published in a dozen foreign countries.

FROM THE CRITICS

Publishers Weekly