Scan barcode
bookloverchelle's review against another edition
4.0
I've always loved Grace Burrowes's historical romances. She adds what feels like so much more depth and charm that even though others can serve up as well, her books just have in abundance. Each of her characters, even the secondary, are well thought out and add such richness to the narrative. In this final book in the Captive Hearts trilogy, we meet Michael and Brenna who may have been married for years, have not set eyes on each other in ten years. Married at 20/16, Michael set off to war shortly after the wedding and comes home years later. Brenna has been working hard to keep the keep running in his absence but many blamed her for the Laird leaving and it's been a battle for many years. She doesn't know what to think about the man who has come back from war. She loved the boy she had grown up with but this new Michael is someone very different. Can these two married strangers find a new and stronger love that will help them save their home? I really enjoyed how they rediscovered each other and even though they each had past secrets worked together to build a better union. Great read!
romance_reader_lisa's review against another edition
2.0
I was so bored I skimmed the 2nd half. I didn’t have a problem with anything per se, I just did not find the story engaging.
scoutmomskf's review against another edition
5.0
Good ending to the Captive Hearts series. Michael made his first appearances in The Captive and The Traitor, as part of the undercover team sent to France by Wellington. Just before he left for the war, nine years earlier, Michael had married Brenna. They had been betrothed since he was thirteen and she was eight. When the marriage took place, Michael was twenty and Brenna was sixteen. Though Brenna begged to go with him, Michael left her behind, telling her that she would be safer at home.
The book began as Michael returned home, appearing without notice. Brenna is shocked, angry, and worried. She has spent the years since his departure taking care of home and hearth with little communication with her husband. It hasn't been easy. Her husband's uncle actively works against her, and the people of the clan that she tries to care for look on her with contempt and suspicion. She is furious with Michael for abandoning her, and his staying away even after the war ended only aggravated her more. But, in spite of her anger with him, Brenna also remembers the days when he was her only friend, that she felt safe and protected with him. Michael is glad to be home, his duties to his country finally at an end. He hopes to find peace and healing in his land and the arms of his wife.
I loved that first meeting between Brenna and Michael. He gets quite a shock when he discovers that she isn't the plump, quiet, girl that he left behind. Instead, he finds a strong, capable woman who is justifiably angry at him. I loved that he admitted his mistakes and promised to do better. Brenna has had such a miserable time that she's ready to call it quits on the marriage. She makes good points that they don't know each other anymore. Michael is determined to make the marriage work, but he is also sensitive to Brenna's feelings. I loved his patience as he slowly worked his way past her walls and earned her trust. There are some very sweet scenes as he woos his wife, showing her the care and respect that she has craved for so long. Brenna is wary around Michael. She quickly realizes that she still cares for him, but she has secrets that could easily destroy his respect for her. I loved seeing the two of them together, as their shared history helped ease the way for them to get to know each other again. I especially enjoyed seeing Michael's belief in Brenna and determination to make things right for her. Brenna also helps Michael deal with the memories of the things he's had to do over the years. I loved the ending as both of them are able to put the past behind them and move on to a future together.
Underneath the happiness of Michael's return, there is also the undercurrent that something isn't quite right. The antagonism between Brenna and Angus is clear, and Michael wants to know why. I liked his quiet watchfulness as he gathered the facts before he made his move. It made me happy to see his righteous anger over how she had been treated by his people. Michael wasn't quite done yet, and he continued his investigation. He did not expect what he found, and his shock and horror were indescribable. The confrontation was intense, though I was not surprised by either accusation. I had disliked Angus from the start because of his attitude toward Brenna, and my suspicions of him continued to grow throughout the book. There were times when he made my skin crawl, and I wanted to yell at Brenna to expose him. There was a slight redemption at the end, but overall I think he got a better ending than he deserved.
I loved seeing St. Clair and Milly (The Traitor) when they arrived to visit the Brodies though their timing was certainly awkward. The friendship between the two men is clear, as is the respect. I loved seeing St. Clair give Michael relationship advice. I also enjoyed the growing friendship between Milly and Brenna and loved Milly's part in revealing some of Brenna's troubles to Michael. It was terrific to see the changes in St. Clair since Milly came into his life.
There were other secondary characters to round out the story. Brenna's MacLogan cousins were somewhat integral to what was going on. They were there because of Brenna's marriage to Michael but were not universally accepted. Angus used them as a stick to keep Brenna in line but also had to be wary because of what they knew. I was angry at them for their part in the event that turned the clan against Brenna, but I also liked Hugh's support of Michael as he worked to get at the truth. Maeve was an interesting addition to the story. I ached for her and the betrayal she felt as her sister sent her away from the only home she had ever known to a brother she had never met. It was no wonder that she was as prickly as she was. She was also lonely, which made her a prime target for Angus. I liked Brenna's understanding of how Maeve felt, and her desperate need to protect Maeve. It would have been a lot easier if she had told Michael why she was so adamant in her rules. I would love to see a book with Maeve as the heroine.
The book began as Michael returned home, appearing without notice. Brenna is shocked, angry, and worried. She has spent the years since his departure taking care of home and hearth with little communication with her husband. It hasn't been easy. Her husband's uncle actively works against her, and the people of the clan that she tries to care for look on her with contempt and suspicion. She is furious with Michael for abandoning her, and his staying away even after the war ended only aggravated her more. But, in spite of her anger with him, Brenna also remembers the days when he was her only friend, that she felt safe and protected with him. Michael is glad to be home, his duties to his country finally at an end. He hopes to find peace and healing in his land and the arms of his wife.
I loved that first meeting between Brenna and Michael. He gets quite a shock when he discovers that she isn't the plump, quiet, girl that he left behind. Instead, he finds a strong, capable woman who is justifiably angry at him. I loved that he admitted his mistakes and promised to do better. Brenna has had such a miserable time that she's ready to call it quits on the marriage. She makes good points that they don't know each other anymore. Michael is determined to make the marriage work, but he is also sensitive to Brenna's feelings. I loved his patience as he slowly worked his way past her walls and earned her trust. There are some very sweet scenes as he woos his wife, showing her the care and respect that she has craved for so long. Brenna is wary around Michael. She quickly realizes that she still cares for him, but she has secrets that could easily destroy his respect for her. I loved seeing the two of them together, as their shared history helped ease the way for them to get to know each other again. I especially enjoyed seeing Michael's belief in Brenna and determination to make things right for her. Brenna also helps Michael deal with the memories of the things he's had to do over the years. I loved the ending as both of them are able to put the past behind them and move on to a future together.
Underneath the happiness of Michael's return, there is also the undercurrent that something isn't quite right. The antagonism between Brenna and Angus is clear, and Michael wants to know why. I liked his quiet watchfulness as he gathered the facts before he made his move. It made me happy to see his righteous anger over how she had been treated by his people. Michael wasn't quite done yet, and he continued his investigation. He did not expect what he found, and his shock and horror were indescribable. The confrontation was intense, though I was not surprised by either accusation. I had disliked Angus from the start because of his attitude toward Brenna, and my suspicions of him continued to grow throughout the book. There were times when he made my skin crawl, and I wanted to yell at Brenna to expose him. There was a slight redemption at the end, but overall I think he got a better ending than he deserved.
I loved seeing St. Clair and Milly (The Traitor) when they arrived to visit the Brodies though their timing was certainly awkward. The friendship between the two men is clear, as is the respect. I loved seeing St. Clair give Michael relationship advice. I also enjoyed the growing friendship between Milly and Brenna and loved Milly's part in revealing some of Brenna's troubles to Michael. It was terrific to see the changes in St. Clair since Milly came into his life.
There were other secondary characters to round out the story. Brenna's MacLogan cousins were somewhat integral to what was going on. They were there because of Brenna's marriage to Michael but were not universally accepted. Angus used them as a stick to keep Brenna in line but also had to be wary because of what they knew. I was angry at them for their part in the event that turned the clan against Brenna, but I also liked Hugh's support of Michael as he worked to get at the truth. Maeve was an interesting addition to the story. I ached for her and the betrayal she felt as her sister sent her away from the only home she had ever known to a brother she had never met. It was no wonder that she was as prickly as she was. She was also lonely, which made her a prime target for Angus. I liked Brenna's understanding of how Maeve felt, and her desperate need to protect Maeve. It would have been a lot easier if she had told Michael why she was so adamant in her rules. I would love to see a book with Maeve as the heroine.
digitlchic's review against another edition
4.0
Such a hard read. Grateful I’d gotten some spoilers ahead of time because I appreciated being prepared to handle child sexual abuse as a theme. I do wish someone had also included a suicide trigger warning. It’s not the H or h, but a significant character nonetheless. I understand why the author chose this and she handled it relatively well, but it’s still just always a hard one for me. So I wanted to include my note in case someone else needs it in future
alisonb's review against another edition
4.0
This was a slow but satisfying read about two people who married young and are separated for nine years. After reuniting, Brenna and Michael spend the entirety of the book getting to know one another as husband and wife.
This is a story in which child abuse is a prevalent and dark fact that lurks beneath Brenna’s skin and causes her to erect physical and psychological walls of protection around her person. And because of this, having Michael be the antithesis of her experience was so vital.
I adored Michael as an insightful partner to Brenna. He exhibited gentleness and patience towards her throughout the story and gave her space to confide in him.
While there was a slow and quiet way about this story, I felt that it was appropriate and well done in lieu of the sensitive nature of the trauma experienced by the heroine.
I believe it is important to give a content warning in that the child abuse is sexual in nature and is described by the heroine in more detail late in the story. It is done in a matter of fact way as Michael listens, and is followed by a ceremony in which a sense of closure is given for those involved.
The love story between Brenna and Michael is beautifully done and I would recommend this book for Grace Burrowes fans. She did a terrific job of balancing a difficult reality and giving Brenna and Michael a beautiful HEA at the same time.
This is a story in which child abuse is a prevalent and dark fact that lurks beneath Brenna’s skin and causes her to erect physical and psychological walls of protection around her person. And because of this, having Michael be the antithesis of her experience was so vital.
I adored Michael as an insightful partner to Brenna. He exhibited gentleness and patience towards her throughout the story and gave her space to confide in him.
While there was a slow and quiet way about this story, I felt that it was appropriate and well done in lieu of the sensitive nature of the trauma experienced by the heroine.
I believe it is important to give a content warning in that the child abuse is sexual in nature and is described by the heroine in more detail late in the story. It is done in a matter of fact way as Michael listens, and is followed by a ceremony in which a sense of closure is given for those involved.
The love story between Brenna and Michael is beautifully done and I would recommend this book for Grace Burrowes fans. She did a terrific job of balancing a difficult reality and giving Brenna and Michael a beautiful HEA at the same time.
anarosareads's review against another edition
3.0
this was a lot more than i bargained for! don’t know exactly what to feel about this one
jennifer_jennifer's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Would give it 6 stars if I could.
planetarypan's review against another edition
5.0
This book was wonderful, but it should come with a HUGE trigger warning. (Although if you don't have an inkling about the direction of the awful side of the story pretty quickly, I would be surprised.) The OTP has been married for nine years -- all of which the groom has been gone. Of course, this is Michael's story, the conclusion from "The Captive" and "The Traitor". I have been intrigued by his character from the previous two books, and I really enjoyed his story, dark as it was. The fact that the OTP are already in love with each other makes this novel different from so many, but due to Michael's long absence, they have to find their way back to love... through a really murky, horrible bunch of baggage. Not once did Burrowes make you want to pity the characters in this novel, for they were all strong survivors, done horribly wrong by a person they trusted. I mostly just got pissed off at the townspeople much the same way that Michael does. Sorry to see this story end, though. (Kind of wouldn't mind the inevitable stories of Lachlan/Maeve and Gabby/St. Clair's son.)
gonturans's review against another edition
5.0
cw: childhood sexual abuse, portrayal of grooming
this is a deeply affecting and emotional novel about healing and the making of a marriage, but could be triggering for childhood sexual abuse survivors as brenna's trauma is the lurking dread underpinning the growing trust and tenderness between her and michael, and michael's younger sister moving to the castle.
one of grace burrowe's best imo, but definitely very heavy despite the beautiful relationship at the center
third read update: it's hard to call this a favorite, but it remains one of the author's best novels and a shining example of the ability of the genre to be a balm to deep hurts
this is a deeply affecting and emotional novel about healing and the making of a marriage, but could be triggering for childhood sexual abuse survivors as brenna's trauma is the lurking dread underpinning the growing trust and tenderness between her and michael, and michael's younger sister moving to the castle.
one of grace burrowe's best imo, but definitely very heavy despite the beautiful relationship at the center
third read update: it's hard to call this a favorite, but it remains one of the author's best novels and a shining example of the ability of the genre to be a balm to deep hurts