Customer Reviews

Captive (Avon Red)

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

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.

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

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.

This was a fast read. I pretty much enjoyed this story. I like how the author takes your imagination from Italy to Morrocco, and London. Pretty good plot. Except when the hero is abducted something weird takes place that I really think should have been left out of the story. However, this is the first book I have read by this author and I found it quite enjoyable.

This is not Ms Swanns best book, I have read better. The story was not as developed as I would have liked, it read like a harlequin romance. I did not get a sense of the time period or place. The characters were one dimeansional, especailly the H/H. For the life of me I do not know why the H/H were in love. There was one misunderstanding that could have been cleared up at the start of the story but the author let it become the basis for why the heroine resisted the hero. The price of this book was too high for the qaulaity of the story. Buyer beware.

Louisa Clemens knows her place in her employer's household. She is to be seen and not heard and only speaks when spoken to. She is never to be invited to supper and is never to assume that she is an equal to any guest. When she takes her charges in to curtsey for their mother's guests, Louisa's eyes meet those of Khair Bey. She is instantly aware of his perusal of her person and while she knows she should not be interested, she is. However, she is not so naïve to think that a man like Khair would want her for more than one night.

Leda Swann's Captive takes the reader on a tantalizing journey through the eyes of Louisa Clemens. As a hired governess, she understands the ways of society and how her position works. When Khair Bey's attention falls upon her, she knows without a doubt that this is a man used to getting what he wants. She falls for the handsome foreign businessman knowing that nothing will ever come from their being together. And that is Louisa's mistake - she has no idea the impression and feelings that she invokes in Khair Bey. Louisa is unable to stay in her present employment and sets out to return to England. When her ship is over run by pirates, Louisa is taken Captive and sold to the highest bidder - none other than Khair Bey.

Captive is Louisa and Khair Bey's journey from slave and master to lovers. Boldly erotic love scenes and blazing hot passions combined with the exotic setting of Morocco makes Captive one hot historical. Don't miss it.

Talia
Reviewed for Joyfully Reviewed