Customer Reviews

Captive

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Teela Warren is engaged to marry a career military officer by order of her brutally abusive stepfather, however, the fiance knows that Teela's heart belongs to a half-breed Seminole accused of murder, kidnapping, and treason, among other things, James 'Running Bear' McKenzie.

James McKenzie, introduced in Runaway, is obsessed with Teela, though he grieves the death of his beloved wife and child; though he carries the weight of the Seminole nation on his shoulder; though he fears constantly for the lives of his white family and friends, lives that could easily be snatched within an instant; though he realizes that he can offer Teela nothing but an open sky and a hungry belly, he is still obsessed with her, and she with him.

Captive is captivating. Exciting, exhilirating, and sensitive. Captive will have you in tears, routing for the Native Americans that were so brutally decimated in Florida for land; but will also have you grieving for the innocents murdered in revenge. You will applaud the strength of leaders such as Osceola and understand their Native American's strength to endeavor. Graham's ability to capture the essence of the inner strength of the Seminoles is applauded!!

If you are not familiar with the Florida McKenzies', I suggest that you start at the beginning of Graham's sensational series, 'Runaway'. 'Runaway' introduces Jarrett McKenzie, James's brother and explains the relationship between the McKenzies and the Seminole Nation. 'Captive' picks up the story of James McKenzie and gives historical details of the 1830s decimation of the Seminole Nation; and 'Rebel' allows us to see baby Ian, Jarrett's son, as a full-grown replica of his father fighting the Civil War in his marriage bed, while 'Surrender' introduces James eldest son, Jerome, fighting the Civil War on sea, land, prison and in love. Following is 'Glory', Jarrett's second son, Julian, a skilled and talented physician, and 'Triumph', continues and ends the story of both Jarrett's and James youngest headstrong daughters and their relunctant marriages to opposing Civil War soldiers. And if you enjoy the McKenzies, why I believe you'll enjoy the Camerons in 1. Sweet Savage Eden, 2. A Pirate's Pleasure, 3. Love Not a Rebel, 4. One Wore Blue, 5. One Wore Gray, 6. One Rode West.

Happy Readings!!!

"Captive" is wonderful. James McKenzie could be my captor any day. The story was not only exciting, but romantic. Teela is just the right captive to tame the wild side of James "Running Bear" McKenzie.

"Captive" crosses culture as well as boundaries. It is intriguing and filled with excitement. James is a product of both worlds, therefore, he is twice as good.

Oh and fans "Captive" updates us on Jarrett McKenzie, James' brother and Jarrett's wife, Tara. I read "Captive" a year or so ago, but just writing this review makes me want to read it again!

James McKenzie was raw and passionate and oh so sexy. I love it when the author makes the hero "a real man". There are not many romantic books surrounding the Florida wars, I am glad Ms. Graham sprung that time to life. The Seminoles were among the bravest warriors and the injustice that was thrust into their lives should never be forgotten. Again, this as an excellent read but if you are light hearted and cant handle gritty love scenes, this is not for you.

This was an enjoyable book. While certain aspects of the "build up" of the romance between the two characters played out a little long for my tastes, it was nonetheless a decent read.

I read this book when it came out, and since, have thoroughly enjoyed rereads! This is - in my opinion - Heather Graham'Shannon Drake's at her best! The story is well plotted, excellently researched (I am a Florida native) and the characters are amazingly well drawn. James/Running Bear's tragic character and the way he is torn between two worlds, is very painful and realistic. The horror and tragedy of Florida's Seminole Wars is viscerally captured by Graham, as well as the pain of two lovers whose circumstances seem insurmountable. A story of obsessive, impossible love, along with the very real tragedy of the times, could not be better told!!!

James McKenzie's wife is dead but his daughter Jennifer, lives. A man who slaughter's Indians has sent for his step-daughter. From the moment James layed eyes on her at a party the fires were lit, but were slowed and almost burnt out when he found her real identity. The book was excellent and you would sit turning the pages just waiting to see what would happen next, or at the next meeting of the two as they slowly fall in love with each other.

Make sure you read "Runaway" first because you are introduced to James "Running Bear " McKenzie in it and he like his brother is hot. Jarrett and Tara are also in it so loved that as well. I loved this story and the detail Heather Graham puts to it. You feel as if you are there. I can't wait to finish the series.

This is the second in Graham's 19th century Old Florida's McKenzies series--passionate romances that tell the stories of the men and women who shaped a great state. Graham takes care to give us the history of the times (it's her home state after all!) as she weaves wonderful tales of love in the Eden that was the Florida Territory.

The story opens in 1837, (a year after Runaway ended) as beautiful southern belle Teela Warren is taken captive by the half-breed Seminole, James McKenzie, aka Running Bear, who lost the Indian wife he loved deeply and one of his two young daughters to disease the year before. Then the story takes us back to when Teela first arrived in Florida, summoned from her home in South Carolina by her cruel military stepfather, Major Michael Warren, who is in Florida hunting Indians. The Indians, his own men and Teela hate him. James has left his young daughter in the care of his brother Jarrett and his wife Tara (from Runaway) at their plantation Cimarron, a protected island of calm in the midst of the Indian wars. The evening Teela arrives, she meets James, now a bitter man. He is wildly attracted to the beautiful red head but dismayed to learn she is Warren's daughter and, of course, he thinks she would toy with him as a red man.

James is a man women are drawn to...to his wildness, his masculine prowess and his handsome and striking good looks. Raised as a gentleman among his white relatives, he has another side...the savage half of him that will defend the Seminoles, his other people. Teela has decided she must have real love or be independent and will not accept a husband of her stepfather's choosing. Without realizing it, she falls in love with James and gives herself to him soon after they meet. James' brother, Jarrett, is concerned where their affair will lead since James can offer her no life and her stepfather hates the Seminoles.

It's a moving, well-told story that tore at my heart--a tale of two people who should be together, who can't deny each other the passion between them, but who are often torn apart by the forces and prejudices of their time.

You won't be disappointed in this one. I highly recommend it.

The series in order:

Runaway
Captive
Rebel
Surrender
Glory
Triumph

James McKenzie is still grieving over the lose of his wife Naomi and daughter to disease and feels like his soul was buried with them. He has thrown himself completely into the confict between the Army and the Seminole Indians with no distractions until that one evening when his sister-in-law, Tara has convinced him to stay for a birthday party at Camaron for his brother Jarrett. (1 of my favorite scenes in the book!) After dressing in his finest, he spends time reflecting while staring into the fire place putting his back to the staircase..... Teela Warren is the step-daughter of the notorious Indian hater and military officer Michael Warren. She, herself, has been forced to live a strict military life, as well as received the blunt end of the whip at times when she has not conformed to her step-father's way of thinking. Having been brought by force from her home in Charleston with military escort to join Warren, Teela is to meet him on the neutral grounds of Camaron. As a guest at Camaron, she has been asked to join the celebrations of the evening. Dressed elegantly, Teela stops at the end of the staircase to admire the gentleman whom has his back to her thinking it is her host, Jarrett McKenzie- until he turns around and their eyes meet... Hey, I felt like I was there in the room with them. I enjoyed the book and it was a lot of fun reading more of Tara and Jarrett. I have already read Rebel and wished I had not skipped Captive. I highly recommend reading this series in sequence - I think you will enjoy the characters even more. Good Readin!!!

Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this book and I plan on continuing the Florida series but the relationship between main characters, James and Teela was far too similar to the previous Jarrett and Tara's. I was hoping to discover a completely new and fresh approach to the dynamics between the lovers in this story but was a little dissapointed. Nevertheless, Heather again incorporates this fictional love story with real life events and peoples from Florida's past. I think Captive's theme was about overcoming all obstacles in order to obtain peace within and true love.