Captive (Avon Red) [Paperback]

Leda Swann (Author)

Book Description

Series: Avon Red | Publication Date: January 27, 2009

She was a slave to her desire . . . and to his!

A proper British governess, Louisa Clemens knows her place—and it certainly is not with the wild and exotic stranger she meets in Naples. Still, this commanding, mesmerizing man inflames her imagination in a most improper manner. When the magnificent Khair Bey steals into her bedroom, Louisa is transported to a breathtaking realm of sensual pleasure she had only previously imagined. And now she must flee his kisses and hot, demanding touch or she will be lost forever.

But on her journey home, Louisa is captured by pirates and spirited away to be auctioned off to the highest bidder—a bitter fate that turns shockingly sweet when she is purchased by the very man who has awakened her slumbering desires. Now she belongs to Khair Bey, body and soul—his mistress, his concubine, the most favored beauty in his harem. But as he initiates her into the art of lovemaking, Khair is enchanted by the powerful erotic charms and indomitable will of his captive English rose. And soon it will be the prisoner who possesses the master, passionately and completely . . .

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Leda Swann lives happily on the beach in a small New Zealand community and spends free time boating, swimming, scuba diving, snorkeling, and anything else that involves getting unpleasantly cold and wet on a regular basis.

Product Details

• Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Avon Red; Original edition (January 27, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061672394
• ISBN-13: 978-0061672392
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,289,234 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Leda Swann is the writing partnership of Cathy and Brent. They live on the beach in New Zealand - the home of kiwis (birds), pohutukawas (trees), and bungee jumping (a sport for crazy people).

They like writing romance novels together, and hardly ever argue about it. That's because everyone knows that Cathy is the boss.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars wishy washy heroine, insipid hero, uninspiring read, June 17, 2009

By 

melina zora (Greece) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Captive (Avon Red) (Paperback)

Unfortunately, it being my first Leda Swan read, left me so disappointed that I won't risk another. I simply regret the money paid which was steep considering the content and quality of this particular book.

Louisa is a British governess in Naples whose life is rather lacklustre until an exotic stranger from Morocco appears and throws her neat little life in turmoil. This demure British governess falls for his charms and allows him to expose her to the world of sensual pleasure. Hm. Interesting you may think, but even these scenes devoted to indulging the senses had me yawning and stretching. They sounded like well practiced lines an actor quotes with no feeling or passion. Khair Bey which is the name of our enarmoured hero wants no less than to marry Louisa. She is in love with him but heard some vague rumours that men from his world have several wives which is not something she can live with. Being highly intelligent, she does not ask for clarifications but runs away to England where nothing and noone of consequence awaits her. But it is better than a fate worse than death!

Khair Bey is so obsessed that he stages an abduction by pirates, an auction where the heroine is up on offer to the highest bidder and what not. After such costly and time consuming contrivances to have her where he wants, he allows her to reside with the women of his family, none of whom are wives by the way, and no sex until and if she decides. If I hadn't been too busy yawning I would have been rolling about in laughterr. Please! Make the characters behave more realistically, no matter how far fetched the circumstances may be. And this woman was so pathetically dense I wanted to slap her. Once the heroine finds out the truth of her predicament she runs away to England yet again only to realize in the midst of her humdrum life that she truly wants to be with Khair Bey. Now if that isn't one exasperating character I don't know what is. I read the book only because I paid for it. I am sorry I have nothing positive to say about it.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars character driven late nineteenth century erotic romance, January 30, 2009

By 

Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews
(#1 Hall OF FAME REVIEWER)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Captive (Avon Red) (Paperback)

In 1876 Naples, twenty-two year old Louisa Clemens knows her time as the nursery maid to six years old twins Prudence and Hester is coming to an end as they need a governess. She loves her wards, but knows her lack of education prohibits her from becoming the governess to the Winterbottom family shehas been with for six years.

Merchant Mr. Winterbottom hosts a dinner for Moroccan carpet vendor Khair Bey in which Khair and Louisa meet. Later he sneaks into her room for a tryst, but leaves after he learns she is a virgin. The next day following a spirited game of cheating croquet with the girls, Khair and Louisa make love. He asks her to marry him, but she refuses. Instead she quits her post and heads home to England. Pirates stop her ship and the merchants hand her over as a sex slave so they can safely leave with their merchandise. She is put on a slave block for sale in which only Khair bids and takes her to his home. As they fall in love, he wants her as his only wife, but knows he must tell his beautiful English rose the truth about her captivity.

This character driven late nineteenth century erotic romance is kept fresh by Khair, a unique protagonist. His concept of children compared with Mrs. Winterbottom makes one wonder who is "civilized" as he insists parents need to raise their children not servants; in fact he initially assumed Louisa was a relative. His attitude towards Louisa is she is unprotected so he can go for her. Although his methods are high handed as he forces honest Mr. Winterbottom to cede his protection of her and of course his captive ploy, fans will relish this fine heated historical as the English rose proves to be the equal of the Moroccan aristocrat.

Harriet Klausner

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars 4 1/2 stars, March 9, 2009

By 

D.B. (KANSAS CITY, MO United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Captive (Avon Red) (Paperback)

Really enjoyable read. I felt invested in both the male and female characters. The author did a great job of building up the sexual tension between the characters without making it go on forever (like some books). I loved that the actions of the characters seemed to be congruent with the writing of the characters. For example, not really bizarre leaps for a character as in other romance books. Do not let the title mislead into thinking of BDSM there is none of that specifically. I really like this author (writing team) and intend to read all of their published writings in the future.