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Southern #3
Natchez Flame
A woman of courage and honor. She sold everything she owned to go west and marry a powerful land baron she’d never seen. But Priscilla Wills hadn’t counted on the gunfight—or the gun—fighter—who would change her the tall,
broad-shouldered man who killed her guardian in self-defense. Reluctantly he agreed to take her through the dangerous Texas back country to her fiancé's ranch. She hadn’t planned on a journey that would take her into a stranger’s soul as he delivered her into another man’s waiting arms.
A man who lived by the gun. He was an outlaw—yet Brendan Trask unleashed in the prim and proper Priscilla a fiery passion that matched his own. But a man running for his life couldn’t afford a woman who hungered for the security that only her wealthy fiancé could provide.
broad-shouldered man who killed her guardian in self-defense. Reluctantly he agreed to take her through the dangerous Texas back country to her fiancé's ranch. She hadn’t planned on a journey that would take her into a stranger’s soul as he delivered her into another man’s waiting arms.
A man who lived by the gun. He was an outlaw—yet Brendan Trask unleashed in the prim and proper Priscilla a fiery passion that matched his own. But a man running for his life couldn’t afford a woman who hungered for the security that only her wealthy fiancé could provide.
422 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1994
About the author
Kat Martin
168 books3,180 followersKathleen Kelly Martin (aka Kathy Lawrence, Kasey Mars)
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
Kathleen Kelly was born on 14 July 1947 in the Central Valley of California, USA. She obtained a degree in Anthropology and also studied History at the University of California in Santa Barbara. She was a real estate broker, when she met her future husband, Larry Jay Martin. A short time after the two became acquainted, Larry asked her to read an unpublished manuscript of an historical western he'd written. Kat fell in love with both the book and the author! Then, after doing some editing for him, she thought she'd try her own hand at writing. She moved on to become a full time writer.
Published since 1988, she signed her books with her married name, Kat Martin, but she also used two pseudonyms: Kathy Lawrence for a book in collaboration with her husband Larry Jay Martin, and Kasey Mars for her first contemporary romances. The New York Times bestselling writer, among her many awards, has won the prestigious RT Book Review Magazine Career Achievement Award. To date, Kat has over eleven million copies of her books in print. She has been published in seventeen foreign countries, including England, South Africa, Spain, Argentina, Germany, Italy, Greece, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Bulgaria, China, and Korea.
Currently residing with her husband, a Western-writer and photographer, in Missoula, Montana, USA. But when they are not writing, they also enjoy skiing and traveling, particularly to Europe.
"I've always loved books. I was an avid reader, with any number of my own stories rolling around in my head. Writing them down seemed a logical step."
"I love anything old," Kat says. "I love to travel and especially like to visit the places where my books are set. My husband and I often stay in out-of-the-way inns and houses built in times past. It's fun and it gives a wonderful sense of a by-gone era."
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 3, 2026
Read: 6/20/26
Setting: 1846 Texas
Trope: class difference, western, kidnapping, MOC, forced proximity
This book was a bit of a disappointment after reading Savannah Heat.
Plot: Priscilla has sold everything she owns to join her fiance, a powerful man she's never met. Her plans change when her new escort is shot while pulling a gun during a poker game. It's only fair that the killer take responsibility and escort her to her fiance's ranch!
Brendan reluctantly agrees, then tries to distance himself from the infuriating woman. Unfortunately, disaster after disaster kept pulling them closer together and soon real feelings start to grow. Through Brendan 's eyes, Priscilla begans to appreciate this land called Texas. Soon a love forms between the couple, but Brendan isn't ready for these intense feelings.
Eventually, after a long, hazardous journey, they finally arrive at her fiance's ranch. Then Brendan quickly leaves a heartbroken Priscilla. She has no choice but to marry her wealthy, but controlling fiance. She has no money and nowhere to go. Then Brendan shows up on the wedding night to confess his feelings. Priscilla runs away with him. Surely, her husband will want an annulment? Think again! The Baron tracks them down and has Brendan arrested. Apparently, he is a wanted man. Priscilla is heartbroken to discover he's an outlaw. Was everything a lie? The Baron surprisingly still wants her. He needs a woman like Priscilla for his political career. She agrees to go with him to Mississippi (Natez), but he will wait to consummate the marriage until he knows she's not pregnant.
Later, Brendan tracks Priscilla down, but she's hesitant to go with him. Priscilla is a woman who hungers for the kind of security only her husband can supply. What kind of life would she have with an outlaw? Priscilla will have to choose between wealth and love.
***
The story starts off strong, but went downhill after Brendan leaves Priscilla with her fiance. Once he comes back for her, Priscilla starts to flip flop on her feelings. It was annoying and brought the pacing to a crawl. Obviously, she doesn't love him or she wouldn't have been so quick to believe the worst.
Also, the Baron wasn't that bad of a guy. In fact, I was a little disappointed with his villainy. He didn't abuse Priscilla, kill Brendan, or anything that was truly evil. So, it was hard to picture the supposedly ruthless man as the main obstacle that stands in the way of the MC's HEA.
Conclusion: a pretty good hr, but it could have been so much better. Unfortunately, an indecisive h ruined the 2nd half of the book.
1st half :4.5 stars
2nd half: 2.5 stars
Setting: 1846 Texas
Trope: class difference, western, kidnapping, MOC, forced proximity
This book was a bit of a disappointment after reading Savannah Heat.
Plot: Priscilla has sold everything she owns to join her fiance, a powerful man she's never met. Her plans change when her new escort is shot while pulling a gun during a poker game. It's only fair that the killer take responsibility and escort her to her fiance's ranch!
Brendan reluctantly agrees, then tries to distance himself from the infuriating woman. Unfortunately, disaster after disaster kept pulling them closer together and soon real feelings start to grow. Through Brendan 's eyes, Priscilla begans to appreciate this land called Texas. Soon a love forms between the couple, but Brendan isn't ready for these intense feelings.
Eventually, after a long, hazardous journey, they finally arrive at her fiance's ranch. Then Brendan quickly leaves a heartbroken Priscilla. She has no choice but to marry her wealthy, but controlling fiance. She has no money and nowhere to go. Then Brendan shows up on the wedding night to confess his feelings. Priscilla runs away with him. Surely, her husband will want an annulment? Think again! The Baron tracks them down and has Brendan arrested. Apparently, he is a wanted man. Priscilla is heartbroken to discover he's an outlaw. Was everything a lie? The Baron surprisingly still wants her. He needs a woman like Priscilla for his political career. She agrees to go with him to Mississippi (Natez), but he will wait to consummate the marriage until he knows she's not pregnant.
Later, Brendan tracks Priscilla down, but she's hesitant to go with him. Priscilla is a woman who hungers for the kind of security only her husband can supply. What kind of life would she have with an outlaw? Priscilla will have to choose between wealth and love.
***
The story starts off strong, but went downhill after Brendan leaves Priscilla with her fiance. Once he comes back for her, Priscilla starts to flip flop on her feelings. It was annoying and brought the pacing to a crawl. Obviously, she doesn't love him or she wouldn't have been so quick to believe the worst.
Also, the Baron wasn't that bad of a guy. In fact, I was a little disappointed with his villainy. He didn't abuse Priscilla, kill Brendan, or anything that was truly evil. So, it was hard to picture the supposedly ruthless man as the main obstacle that stands in the way of the MC's HEA.
Conclusion: a pretty good hr, but it could have been so much better. Unfortunately, an indecisive h ruined the 2nd half of the book.
1st half :4.5 stars
2nd half: 2.5 stars
March 25, 2008
Natchez Flame is a fairly interesting read. It's not absolutely awesome, but it was pretty good. I enjoyed it and I didn't find myself bored. It didn't have a full fledged suspense plot, but it had enough of a storyline/plot to keep it interesting. But the majority of the book is about the romance and the characters.
At times Priscilla annoyed me to death. Occasionally she would be this woman who was determined to be independent and to learn how to do things, and at other times, she'd seem completely unable to think for herself. She'd believe every word out of a sleazeball's mouth, yet easily doubt what the man she loved told her. It was just irritating. But she wasn't an overall bad character. Trask was cool too. A pretty typical historical bad-boy. They had some nice chemistry.
A decent read overall. I usually enjoy Kat Martin's books.
At times Priscilla annoyed me to death. Occasionally she would be this woman who was determined to be independent and to learn how to do things, and at other times, she'd seem completely unable to think for herself. She'd believe every word out of a sleazeball's mouth, yet easily doubt what the man she loved told her. It was just irritating. But she wasn't an overall bad character. Trask was cool too. A pretty typical historical bad-boy. They had some nice chemistry.
A decent read overall. I usually enjoy Kat Martin's books.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 5, 2015
This book was ok until about halfway through, then it took a turn for the stupid. Brenda had saved Cilla several times, yet she believed her fiance, who she barely knew, would he said Brendan was a killer. She was by far the most TSTL heroine I've read this year. Also the bit at the end with Mace was just overkill.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 7, 2026
Echoing the same sentiment and thought one of the readers here, the last quarter of the book was a bit of a mixed bag for me. Wish Priscilla didn’t get easily swayed by Stuart’s lies about Brendan. How funny that she switched to his side upon hearing about Brendan’s body counts and his seduction skills, leading her to believe that she was just another conquest of Brendan. He was nothing but gentle towards her throughout their weeks-long journey. He cared for her, saved her from rattlesnakes, even sucked the venom out of her thighs, killed an Apache who tried to rape her, saved her from Stuart and the men. Yet she was having a tick and switch and trusted Stuart’s words instead. Everytime Brendan seduced, she was like no no I’m Mrs. Egan but proceed to sleep with Brendan anyway. And this happened about 3 , 4 times. That bit was an overkill. STUPID STUPID PRISCILLA! Really tanked the rating for me.
November 15, 2017
Fabulous read!
This story has everything. There is excitement, danger, mystery and romance. Due to explicit sensual scenes, this is an adult read. The scenes are well written. Early history in Texas and surrounding areas was rough and deadly. Thugs ran rampant on river waters, towns and prairies. How honest men and women settled the countryside is the theme of this book.
This story has everything. There is excitement, danger, mystery and romance. Due to explicit sensual scenes, this is an adult read. The scenes are well written. Early history in Texas and surrounding areas was rough and deadly. Thugs ran rampant on river waters, towns and prairies. How honest men and women settled the countryside is the theme of this book.
May 28, 2018
Hot dangerous gunslinger and prim proper virgin, yummy
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 10, 2021
I loved it, I couldn’t put it down. Her newer books are getting more exciting love all her books and they enter twine.
July 13, 2011
She sold everything she owned to go west and marry a powerful land baron she'd never met. But Priscilla Wills never counted on the gunfight and the gunfighter who would change her life. The tall, broad-chested man who killed her guardian in self-defense reluctantly agrees to take her through the Texas back country to her fiance's ranch. She hadn't planned on a journey that would take her to love before delivering her to another man's arms.
Brendan Trask was an outlaw and yet he unleashed in Priscilla a passion that rivaled his own. And yet a man running for his life couldn't afford a woman who hungered for the security that only her fiance could provide.
Brendan Trask was an outlaw and yet he unleashed in Priscilla a passion that rivaled his own. And yet a man running for his life couldn't afford a woman who hungered for the security that only her fiance could provide.
August 17, 2012
This southern series introduced me to Kat Martin. And what a series. Loved the two main characters, Priscilla Wills and Brendan Trask. Ms. Martin puts them in hot, steamy situations and delivers on page-turning thrills. Love historical romance? You will not be disappointed in this trilogy.
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December 20, 2016Library
November 21, 2015
I was good
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews