Heart of Fire

In Martin’s newest, the second in her Heart Trilogy (after Heart of Honor ), writer and aristocrat Coralee Whitmore is in mourning for her late sister, Laurel, believed to be a suicide. Brave, impetuous Coralee, however, suspects foul play, and so she starts an investigation of Grayson Forsythe, Earl of Tremaine, the man she suspects was her sister’s lover. Disguised as Forsythe’s impoverished cousin, Coralee gains admittance to his world and discovers that things are not what they seem—especially her own feelings for the roguish earl. A night of passion and a dollop of danger kick the smart, sexy protagonists into high gear, though they play off each other superbly from the start. Martin’s Victorian is blessed with a strong plot and a rich supporting cast of family and friends, making this fun, full romance a surefire crowd pleaser. (Jan.)