Night Play and Innocence Undone

Posted November 13, 2007 by Book Binge Guest Blogger in Reviews | 9 Comments

Bride McTierney has had it with men. They’re cheap, self-centered, and never love her for who she is. But though she prides herself on being independent, deep down she still yearns for a knight in shining armor.

She just never expected her knight in shining armor to have a shiny coat of fur. . .
Deadly and tortured, Vane Kattalakis isn’t what he seems. Most women lament that their boyfriends are dogs. In Bride’s case, hers is a wolf. A Were-Hunter wolf. Wanted dead by his enemies, Vane isn’t looking for a mate. But the Fates have marked Bride as his. Now he has three weeks to either convince Bride that the supernatural is real or he will spend the rest of his life neutered–something no self-respecting wolf can accept. . .

But how does a wolf convince a human to trust him with her life when his enemies are out to end his? In the world of the Were-Hunters, it really is dog-eat-dog. And only one alpha male can win.

I loved this book when it first came out. Loved it.

After a reread… meh. I was annoyed with Bride and her “What does he see in me?” I mean, yeah I can understand it at first, but after while it was just enough already. Some of the dialogue I found kind of cheesy.

I don’t know if I found the book meh because of the reading funk I’m in or if the book was meh to begin with and I was just in my Sherrilyn Kenyon can write no wrong phase.

But I still love Vane and how sweet and loving he was to Bride. I still loved how he wasn’t sure how to court Bride and asked Nick for advice.

Grade: 4/5

Jessica Fox wasn’t always the beautiful, composed young woman who is the toast of the London ton. Born in poverty, Jessica wandered the streets until fate found her a guardian in the aging Marquess of Belmore. Now, it is fate she tempts with her longing for the Marquess’s son, the arrogant and handsome Captain Mathew Seaton.

Upon his return from the sea, Matthew is forced to confront the sensuous beauty he believes has set her sights on the Belmore title. Though his mind tells him to beware, his blood boils with thoughts of luring her into his bed. To win his love, Jessica will do anything. But when desire flames and the dark shadow of her childhood lengthens, she risks everything she has dreamed of in a dangerous dance of denial.

What is up with these leading ladies who think by running away she’s doing everyone a favor? Ugh.

What happened: Matthew was engaged to Caroline Winston but hungered for Jessie. At Jessie’s wedding, right when she’s about to say “I do”, Matthew turns up, drunk, carries Jessie over his shoulder out of the church while saying “mine.” Of course, they have to get married to avoid scandal. I did kind of laugh when Matthew passed out on top of poor Jessie before anything happened.

Caroline, however, isn’t too happy. She vows revenge and has a bow street runner dig up Jessie’s past and expose her. Once Jessie finds out every one knows the truth( Matthew had already known) she runs away. At least this time it wasn’t for a year. It was only for a few days or so.

Other than that, the story was ok. So far, Kat Martin’s books have been ok. Nothing great but nothing horrible either.

Grade: 3/5


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9 responses to “Night Play and Innocence Undone

  1. Dev

    Bride’s story was okay ~ I didn’t like it as much as others did.

    I’ve tried to read Kat Martin before ~ everything I’ve picked up by her was a DNF for me. I don’t know why ~ I just didn’t click with her.

  2. Bride’s story is on my To Be Reread pile. That book and Talon’s are my two favourites in the series (or I should say, 2 of the 4 I actually liked) and it’ll be interesting to see how they stand up during the second read.

  3. I just love Vane… I didn’t care much for Bride, I have to admit… (and what kind of name is Bride?) However, I just love Vane and Fury 🙂 and Nick and Otto (the statues!)

    As for the Kat Martin… I don’t like her contemporaries much, so I stay clear from her historicals… the thing with authors is that they often re-used their ideas… so sometimes, if you start binging on an author, it’ll just jump at you… but that scene where Matthew ruins the wedding, I’d like to read that 😛

  4. dev- Which kat martin books did you try reading?

    kat- Night Play was my favorite of the series. So after my reread, i’m kind of bummed. But then it could have been the mood I’m in too.

    Nath- Ha ha, otto putting pasties on the statues. Too funny. I also enjoyed reading about Nick before he got all bitter and angry. Sigh.

  5. Isabel, I totally agree with you… Nick was much more fun to read about before he went all bitter. Ever since then, I started skimming his parts.

  6. Rowena

    You didn’t really care for Vane’s story this time around, huh? Are you serious? YOU, IZZY didn’t care for this story this time around? WOW…I never thought the day would come, you and Vane go way back, wow…this is the second time today that I’ve been shocked speechless. First Mulu and now you, Izzy…wow. LOL.

    Ugh, I hate when heroines run away and I hate when heroines don’t remember anything and I hate when heroines are just dumb. This heroine sounds dumb so I’ll be steering clear of this book for the first little while anyway…LOL.

    Good review sweets!

  7. Anonymous

    I did a re-read of Night Pleasures recently and found the dialogue so cheesy and Kyran was such a whiner, I thought, how did I ever think this was a great book?
    I ended up skipping Night Embrace and re-read Zarek’s book.
    Now that one is still a great book, and I can tell with the last few, she’s definatly not writing the same, the way she communicates a story now had gone downhill.

    And what’s pathetic about it is she still thinks she’s the greatest thing since sliced bread.

  8. Nath- Sigh. I understand he’s all bitter but really… get it over it already. lol.

    Chantal- Yup. Bride. lol.

    Rowena- I know i know! I loved this book when it came out. So I don’t if it’s my reading funk i’m in or if I was just in my SK is awesome phase. I’ll try rereading it later and see how that goes.

    Anon- I’m afraid to reread the others books. I probably should though.

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