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jackiehorne's review
4.0
Had given up trying to keep up with Burrowes' prodigious output, but decided to give this new series a try. Glad I did; really appreciated the parallels Burrowes draws between being a prisoner of war and being a 19th century woman in an abusive marriage. And her usual lovely language and strong characterizations are still well in evidence. Looking forward to book #2...
sabakne's review
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
readingwithjessica_w's review against another edition
4.0
The easiest way to hook me as a reader is to give me a plot line I’ve never read before in one of my favorite genres. Enter: The Captive Duke by Grace Burrowes. Christian Severn, Duke of Mercia was taken prisoner by the French where he was tortured until his release during peacetime. A shell of his former self, he is only able to come alive in the presence of Gillian, the Dowager Countess of Greendale. It is Gilly’s no-nonsense mannerisms and lack of sympathy that has Christian slowly opening up.
I loved that at first, Christian finds Gilly overly talkative, average-looking, and unaffected by his rogue state. But Gilly is so easily able to peel his layers back and bring him back to his old self without making Christian feel like less than a man or like something he’s not. Gilly and Christian have some of the best interactions, and much like a sick bed scene would endear readers to the servicing character, Gilly carefully tending to the Duke in every way he least expects, softening his heart to her. Christian’s mind and body have been through tortured hell, he’s returned to a deceased wife and child, and he can not even stomach tea, and yet Gilly is the salve that feeds his soul. Likewise, as Gillian is in mourning herself, Christian slowly begins to show her that she is worth more than how she was treated for the past eight years by her husband. And under these pretenses, a romance begins to bloom. I loved seeing both Gilly and Christian revitalized by each other and even though this was a lengthy book, I was always interested as the plot continued to develop and Christian seeks revenge for his enslavement. This is not the spiciest historical romance, but the feelings between these two are so real and I felt the longing and need they had for each other. As this is a re-release, hopefully more readers will come to read Grace Burrowes’ series (this book was previously titled The Captive). I know I will definitely be picking up the next book in The Captive Hearts series. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this advanced copy. I read and chose to review this book. All opinions are my own.
CW: Circumcision, descriptions of torture, assault
I loved that at first, Christian finds Gilly overly talkative, average-looking, and unaffected by his rogue state. But Gilly is so easily able to peel his layers back and bring him back to his old self without making Christian feel like less than a man or like something he’s not. Gilly and Christian have some of the best interactions, and much like a sick bed scene would endear readers to the servicing character, Gilly carefully tending to the Duke in every way he least expects, softening his heart to her. Christian’s mind and body have been through tortured hell, he’s returned to a deceased wife and child, and he can not even stomach tea, and yet Gilly is the salve that feeds his soul. Likewise, as Gillian is in mourning herself, Christian slowly begins to show her that she is worth more than how she was treated for the past eight years by her husband. And under these pretenses, a romance begins to bloom. I loved seeing both Gilly and Christian revitalized by each other and even though this was a lengthy book, I was always interested as the plot continued to develop and Christian seeks revenge for his enslavement. This is not the spiciest historical romance, but the feelings between these two are so real and I felt the longing and need they had for each other. As this is a re-release, hopefully more readers will come to read Grace Burrowes’ series (this book was previously titled The Captive). I know I will definitely be picking up the next book in The Captive Hearts series. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca for this advanced copy. I read and chose to review this book. All opinions are my own.
CW: Circumcision, descriptions of torture, assault
bookloverchelle's review
4.0
Another great series from Grace Burrowes. Christian, Duke of Mercia, was held captive by the French and tortured. When the war ended and he finally came home to find his wife and son dead he’s lost and doesn’t know his next steps. Widowed Gilly is not sure of her next steps either, but she knows that she needs Christian to come home to help his young daughter. With vengeance in his heart Christian understands that being with his daughter is the right place to be but he will not stop his quest to find those that captured him. As Gilly slowly opens up about her marriage and Christian heals from his ordeal, they find a common bond and being a romance. But since they both know the depths of despair, will they be willing to open their hearts to love? A really great start to a new series and I’m excited to keep reading!
blodeuedd's review
3.0
Poor Christian. When you talk about heroes who has suffered, well Christian truly did. He spent months being a captive of the French. Being sadistically tortured and abused. This is a broken hero that comes back to England.
At first I did not think of it, it was first later on in the book that it hit me. Yes Christian is the obvious captive. But so was Gillian. She spent 8 years in a bad marriage. She was as much of a captive as he had been. Just abused in another way. The same goes for Lucy, Christian's daughter who has been silent since her mother died. Another captive of herself.
Gillian is perfect for Christian. Of course she wants to heal him, but mostly she just wants to be there. Be a friend, get him home so Lucy would be ok. She saw his scars and did not shy away. She was used to it all. I liked her for it. She was the calm he needed in the storm. And he also healed her.
Conclusion:
I do like Burrowes books so no wonder I enjoyed this one too. Two broken characters. Moving on in their own ways, facing their fears and falling in love.
At first I did not think of it, it was first later on in the book that it hit me. Yes Christian is the obvious captive. But so was Gillian. She spent 8 years in a bad marriage. She was as much of a captive as he had been. Just abused in another way. The same goes for Lucy, Christian's daughter who has been silent since her mother died. Another captive of herself.
Gillian is perfect for Christian. Of course she wants to heal him, but mostly she just wants to be there. Be a friend, get him home so Lucy would be ok. She saw his scars and did not shy away. She was used to it all. I liked her for it. She was the calm he needed in the storm. And he also healed her.
Conclusion:
I do like Burrowes books so no wonder I enjoyed this one too. Two broken characters. Moving on in their own ways, facing their fears and falling in love.
jeannethinks's review against another edition
4.0
The Captive Duke is the first book in the Captive Hearts series. This is a re-release of the book The Captive from 2014.
The Duke of Severn was a prisoner of war to the French and suffered greatly at their hands. Yes, he bears the scars, but they did not break him. Now returned to England, he is trying to find the will to rejoin the living. He finds the source of his calm in the most unlikely place. Gillian, Countess of Windmere, his late wife's cousin, reminds him he still has reasons to live. Returning back to his county seat and reuniting with his daughter who needs him. The draw towards Gillian is impossible to resist, and figuring out her quirks is high on Christians' to-do list. And when strange things start happening, Christian goes into protective mode. As we learn from life, everything isn't always as it seems.
The Duke of Severn was a prisoner of war to the French and suffered greatly at their hands. Yes, he bears the scars, but they did not break him. Now returned to England, he is trying to find the will to rejoin the living. He finds the source of his calm in the most unlikely place. Gillian, Countess of Windmere, his late wife's cousin, reminds him he still has reasons to live. Returning back to his county seat and reuniting with his daughter who needs him. The draw towards Gillian is impossible to resist, and figuring out her quirks is high on Christians' to-do list. And when strange things start happening, Christian goes into protective mode. As we learn from life, everything isn't always as it seems.