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The Captive (Captive Hearts) Mass Market Paperback – July 1, 2014
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"An unusually dark and moving Regency-era love story between a tortured nobleman and a young widow." - Shelf Awareness for Readers, starred review
"Burrowes deftly builds the romantic tension amid lovely layers of domestic tranquility and honest conversations... [an] engrossing story." - Publishers Weekly starred review
"This is a beautiful story of redemption and love's power over evil, but even more so it is a story that wrenches readers' emotions, yet leaves them utterly satisfied. Let Burrowes lift your heart." - RT Book Reviews
"The popular, prolific Burrowes begins a new series with her signature mix of emotional intensity, lush storytelling and intelligent writing... Smart, compelling and captivating." - Kirkus
"Unique and well-written... the characters and their love make for a memorable romance." - Booklist
"Burrowes deftly builds the romantic tension amid lovely layers of domestic tranquility and honest conversations... [an] engrossing story." - Publishers Weekly starred review
"This is a beautiful story of redemption and love's power over evil, but even more so it is a story that wrenches readers' emotions, yet leaves them utterly satisfied. Let Burrowes lift your heart." - RT Book Reviews
"The popular, prolific Burrowes begins a new series with her signature mix of emotional intensity, lush storytelling and intelligent writing... Smart, compelling and captivating." - Kirkus
"Unique and well-written... the characters and their love make for a memorable romance." - Booklist
About the Author
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes' bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie's Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish and Lady Eve's Indiscretion. The Heir was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a PW Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie's Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers' Choice Awards, Lady Louisa's Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid was a PW Best Book of 2012. Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.
More About the Author
Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.
While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")
Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)
To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By
lark
on July 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
Verified Purchase
30 Comments
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You'll think I'm crazy, but these became people to me, not characters, and I love Christian and Gilly. That's how well Ms. Burrowes writes; she brings her people to life and I like how people from other stories will stop by to visit from time to time. This time it was St. Just, The Soldier (Windham Series). And to think I once became so annoyed (downright mad) to find unknown folks traipsing into a story! Well, they were only strangers because I hadn't bestirred myself to read their stories. Now that I've read a few, I feel a comfortable part of the family, the community.
With her novels, Ms. Burrowes hits on an essential truth ~ we all have individual stories, and we are all part of the whole. Plus, her prose is beautifully fluid and descriptive.
The story of Gilly and Christian is one of the most absorbing I've ever read. It's an intense novel about the effects of torture on these two people. They suffered in different ways, but suffer they did. Though in no way oppressive, the story reveals the many emotional paths such survivors follow. The characters are complex and well-defined.
And, of course, we're further gifted with a compelling, sweet story of love between our friends, Gilly and Christian. Truly sigh-worthy.
It's remarkable to me that Ms. Burrowes was able to incorporate such a thoughtful examination of terrible experiences into a vastly engaging, entertaining story, but she did.
I wholeheartedly recommend this. It's not light and frivolous but it's not at all depressing, either. There is a sense of hope throughout. This novel is a standalone. St. Just plays only a small part and knowing him is not essential to this story.
Enjoy your reading! :)
With her novels, Ms. Burrowes hits on an essential truth ~ we all have individual stories, and we are all part of the whole. Plus, her prose is beautifully fluid and descriptive.
The story of Gilly and Christian is one of the most absorbing I've ever read. It's an intense novel about the effects of torture on these two people. They suffered in different ways, but suffer they did. Though in no way oppressive, the story reveals the many emotional paths such survivors follow. The characters are complex and well-defined.
And, of course, we're further gifted with a compelling, sweet story of love between our friends, Gilly and Christian. Truly sigh-worthy.
It's remarkable to me that Ms. Burrowes was able to incorporate such a thoughtful examination of terrible experiences into a vastly engaging, entertaining story, but she did.
I wholeheartedly recommend this. It's not light and frivolous but it's not at all depressing, either. There is a sense of hope throughout. This novel is a standalone. St. Just plays only a small part and knowing him is not essential to this story.
Enjoy your reading! :)
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13 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By
Penny Black
on July 10, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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42 Comments
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In the Captive, arguably the most powerful book Grace Burrowes has written to date, the heroine stole my heart. As much as I dislike the label of "strong heroine," which is overused in reviews and, as such has been nearly stripped of its meaning, I'm at a loss for a better description.
Gillian, the Countess of Greendale, epitomizes of strength in the face of adversity, though, adversity is too mild a word for the personal hell her life had been while her husband was alive. And she managed a narrow escape from his nefarious posthumous plans, bruised, but by no means broken, because her husband's torment had taught her to think out of the box and defy him without engaging in direct confrontation. In other words, her thoughts and actions fit with the time period, in which she lives. And her experiences molded her to become the female counterpart of the hero.
After Christian returns home to England, hurt physically, but unbroken psychologically - the parallels are obvious - Gillian takes over the running of his household, and in many ways of his life, on the condition that he returns to his country estate and spends time with his daughter. There, during hot summer months, sheltered from the eyes of society, two damaged people find that their cracked edges fit together and their friendship heals their scars. Their love story is as heartfelt as it is compelling, and, endless orange peeling and lemonade swilling aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
Gillian, the Countess of Greendale, epitomizes of strength in the face of adversity, though, adversity is too mild a word for the personal hell her life had been while her husband was alive. And she managed a narrow escape from his nefarious posthumous plans, bruised, but by no means broken, because her husband's torment had taught her to think out of the box and defy him without engaging in direct confrontation. In other words, her thoughts and actions fit with the time period, in which she lives. And her experiences molded her to become the female counterpart of the hero.
After Christian returns home to England, hurt physically, but unbroken psychologically - the parallels are obvious - Gillian takes over the running of his household, and in many ways of his life, on the condition that he returns to his country estate and spends time with his daughter. There, during hot summer months, sheltered from the eyes of society, two damaged people find that their cracked edges fit together and their friendship heals their scars. Their love story is as heartfelt as it is compelling, and, endless orange peeling and lemonade swilling aside, I thoroughly enjoyed the book.
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12 of 13 people found the following review helpful
By
Lady Wesley
on July 5, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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WOW! I read this in less that 24 hours. Could not put it down.
Grace Burrowes is at the top of her game in The Captive, the story of two traumatized souls helping one another heal. Christian Severn, Duke of Mercia, was held captive and tortured by Napoleon's army, while Gillian, Lady Greendale, has endured eight years of marriage to an elderly, abusive husband, now mercifully dead. Gilly was a cousin of Christian's wife, Helene, but she and her infant son have died while Christian was in captivity. When the newly freed Christian returns to London, Gilly forces her way into his home to chide him for not attending to his eight-year-old daughter, Lucy, who lives on his country estate with a nurse and governess.
Gilly immediately realizes that Christian is in no condition to take responsibility for his daughter; he is a physical wreck, barely able to eat, and mentally confused. When Christian promises to go to his daughter only if Gilly accompanies him, Gilly feels that she has no choice. Besides, she is eager to leave behind the awful memories connected with her life on her late husband's estate.
Gilly is immediately likable. She is intelligent, compassionate, and supremely competent. The situation calls for a "managing female," and she is one, in the best sort of way. Christian is harder to get to know, which is understandable under the circumstances, but he quickly assumes the role of doting papa to Lucy, who has not spoken a word since her mother died. Gradually, we see his true self re-emerging and we learn about his mistreatment, both through his memories and from the things he tells Gilly. We learn more about Gilly, as well, and see that her marriage was more horrible than first thought.Read more ›
Grace Burrowes is at the top of her game in The Captive, the story of two traumatized souls helping one another heal. Christian Severn, Duke of Mercia, was held captive and tortured by Napoleon's army, while Gillian, Lady Greendale, has endured eight years of marriage to an elderly, abusive husband, now mercifully dead. Gilly was a cousin of Christian's wife, Helene, but she and her infant son have died while Christian was in captivity. When the newly freed Christian returns to London, Gilly forces her way into his home to chide him for not attending to his eight-year-old daughter, Lucy, who lives on his country estate with a nurse and governess.
Gilly immediately realizes that Christian is in no condition to take responsibility for his daughter; he is a physical wreck, barely able to eat, and mentally confused. When Christian promises to go to his daughter only if Gilly accompanies him, Gilly feels that she has no choice. Besides, she is eager to leave behind the awful memories connected with her life on her late husband's estate.
Gilly is immediately likable. She is intelligent, compassionate, and supremely competent. The situation calls for a "managing female," and she is one, in the best sort of way. Christian is harder to get to know, which is understandable under the circumstances, but he quickly assumes the role of doting papa to Lucy, who has not spoken a word since her mother died. Gradually, we see his true self re-emerging and we learn about his mistreatment, both through his memories and from the things he tells Gilly. We learn more about Gilly, as well, and see that her marriage was more horrible than first thought.Read more ›
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By
Tin @ Love Saves the World
on July 1, 2014
Format: Kindle Edition
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Captured by the French and then held captive and tortured for three years -- it is an unreal circumstance for Christian, the Duke of Mercias, and everyone who has heard this tale could not believe it either: his story has become a myth whispered about amongst soldiers -- of the lost duke locked away in a secret location somewhere in France.
But Christian's suffering is very real and, after three years, he is finally free. Grace Burrowes's The Captive tackles a daunting challenge: to tell the story of a hero who has gone through the worst terror, of surviving it and then of what happens to him after. It is a discordant situation -- but Burrowes has managed to tell his story in a balanced and graceful way. It is a melancholic melody and a wonderful tribute to man's ability to endure.
This is not the first story of war to be told in a historical romance, and it is not the first story of survival either -- but, this is, perhaps, the first time I have read about how a man's teeth can soften and loosen from disuse and of broken fingers and of fingernails being pulled out. (The word "oranges" now has a sad note attached to it.) But Burrowes does not revel in the gore, nor does she capitalise on the pity factor -- these details of torture are stated matter-of-factly and quite quietly, actually -- but their implications speak volumes (and resonated loudly in my heart.)
Christian is a heroic hero, in the truest sense of the word -- it is not his suffering that makes him heroic, but his survival and present life.Read more ›
But Christian's suffering is very real and, after three years, he is finally free. Grace Burrowes's The Captive tackles a daunting challenge: to tell the story of a hero who has gone through the worst terror, of surviving it and then of what happens to him after. It is a discordant situation -- but Burrowes has managed to tell his story in a balanced and graceful way. It is a melancholic melody and a wonderful tribute to man's ability to endure.
This is not the first story of war to be told in a historical romance, and it is not the first story of survival either -- but, this is, perhaps, the first time I have read about how a man's teeth can soften and loosen from disuse and of broken fingers and of fingernails being pulled out. (The word "oranges" now has a sad note attached to it.) But Burrowes does not revel in the gore, nor does she capitalise on the pity factor -- these details of torture are stated matter-of-factly and quite quietly, actually -- but their implications speak volumes (and resonated loudly in my heart.)
Christian is a heroic hero, in the truest sense of the word -- it is not his suffering that makes him heroic, but his survival and present life.Read more ›
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