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megfang315's review against another edition
1.0
DNF. This one was confusing because I got bombarded with characters from the start. I kept having to go back and see who was who. Aside from that, I was kind of bored and just wasn't into it.
readermonica's review against another edition
4.0
I started my love of romance novels by reading historical romances. Reading The Captive reminded me just why I love this sub-genre so much. Burrowes gives the reader everything that you could want in a historical romance. You get intrigue and danger right off the bat with Christian and his battle for survival and freedom. We get a heroine with a tender heart but is not without backbone and spirit of her own in Gilly. Gilly has her own set of wounds and dangers to face while trying to help Christian and his daughter Lucy to heal and find each other. Burrowes provides a richly told story that will keep you following Christian, Gillian, and even Lucy down their difficult and painful road to recovery. The Captive is a traditional historical romance done right. This was my first time reading a Grace Burrows book but it definitely not be my last!
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
**I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.**
You can find more from me at Monlatable Book Reviews
http://www.monlatablereviews.com/
justabean_reads's review against another edition
2.0
I started into this book really loving it. I'm a sucker for a well told h/c-heavy narrative that focuses on recovery, healing, and how to get on with life when everything you love's fallen to ruin and you're not yourself any more. The story started as a slightly torture happy (I'd been warned) version of that: two traumatised people learning to live again. Hardly new ground, but well told.
Then the telling derailed. The background plot meant to keep the action ticking along required Our Heroine to carry the idiot ball in such a staggering way that it destroyed her character (which reminded me of the other Burrows book I'd read, where someone spent 200 pages thinking an obvious lady was a serving girl), and Our Hero betrayed every bit of trust he'd spend wheedling out of the woman he's supposed to love (after having bullied her into a relationship in the first place). Plus the nice commentary on different ways society treats different kinds of violence turned into a Don't Miss The Message cluebat assault, and the pacing disintegrated around the book's ears.
Which is a pity, as I love me some h/c and the book had potential to say smart things about interesting topics, before it tripped on its feet and fell to its death.
Then the telling derailed. The background plot meant to keep the action ticking along required Our Heroine to carry the idiot ball in such a staggering way that it destroyed her character (which reminded me of the other Burrows book I'd read, where someone spent 200 pages thinking an obvious lady was a serving girl), and Our Hero betrayed every bit of trust he'd spend wheedling out of the woman he's supposed to love (after having bullied her into a relationship in the first place). Plus the nice commentary on different ways society treats different kinds of violence turned into a Don't Miss The Message cluebat assault, and the pacing disintegrated around the book's ears.
Which is a pity, as I love me some h/c and the book had potential to say smart things about interesting topics, before it tripped on its feet and fell to its death.
avoraciousreader68's review against another edition
4.0
Book source ~ NetGalley
Christian Severn, Duke of Mercia, has survived being held captive and tortured during Napolean’s reign. Finally back in his London town home all he wants is to get well enough to exact his revenge on his captors. But he hasn’t been home long before Gillian, the Countess of Greendale, invades his home and reminds him that he has a daughter in the country who needs her father. He agrees to go, but insists Gillian accompany him. Since she’s a recent widow and has no desire to return to a home filled with unhappy memories, she agrees to his demand. And that’s when it all gets interesting.
This is a very well-written story about dealing with the aftermath of abuse and trusting again. I love Gillian and to an extent I love Christian. I’m probably being picky, but I disliked Christian’s dismissing of Gillian’s concerns, poo pooing them like she’s just a hysterical woman. It’s not something he does overmuch, but it dropped my rating. In any case, despite this slight flaw of Christian’s, this book is still going on a list of my favorite reads of 2019. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a damaged hero.
Christian Severn, Duke of Mercia, has survived being held captive and tortured during Napolean’s reign. Finally back in his London town home all he wants is to get well enough to exact his revenge on his captors. But he hasn’t been home long before Gillian, the Countess of Greendale, invades his home and reminds him that he has a daughter in the country who needs her father. He agrees to go, but insists Gillian accompany him. Since she’s a recent widow and has no desire to return to a home filled with unhappy memories, she agrees to his demand. And that’s when it all gets interesting.
This is a very well-written story about dealing with the aftermath of abuse and trusting again. I love Gillian and to an extent I love Christian. I’m probably being picky, but I disliked Christian’s dismissing of Gillian’s concerns, poo pooing them like she’s just a hysterical woman. It’s not something he does overmuch, but it dropped my rating. In any case, despite this slight flaw of Christian’s, this book is still going on a list of my favorite reads of 2019. What can I say? I’m a sucker for a damaged hero.
stringreads's review against another edition
4.0
I'm super worn out, but I just wanted to say I really liked this, especially the comfortable way the hero and heroine fell into physical touch as a way of comforting each other.
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