61 of 66 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Okay but not "Johanna Lindsey" great, June 21, 2006
I have read all of Lindsey's novels and am one of the legions of her readers who think that the older novels are in a class by themselves, not matched by the newer ones. This latest novel by Lindsey does not buck that trend, although she manages to recreate some happy memories of her writing when she returns to the Malory clan. The book has excitment and adventure but is careless in the character development and plotline. Written by another author, the expectations would not be so high and this would pass as a good read. But, this is, after all, Johanna Lindsey, whose many novels are absolutely spell-binding.
In this story she returns to the Caribbean scene and pirates. It is less interesting than previous novels set here. Her plotline frequently runs to silly when she groups all the "rescuers" discussing their plans--in the middle of a public inn? Not in the privacy of one of their ships? Or in a private room? Hello? Didn't the editors grasp that this was ridiculously unreal for captains who strategize battles etc? Men who are used to spies everywhere? So of course this device allows their plans to be overheard and go awry. Couldn't she have been a little more thoughtful and clever? Why so sloppy?
Drew, the hero of the tale,is described physically in endless detail. Until the last chapters of the book we never get to feel what he is feeling or thinking except raw physical reactions. When we do, it is as though she is hurrying to finish the book and what she writes about him is totally predictable and disappointing. Yes, the characters do interact, and the story is fast-paced. But it is ho-hum. It is worth reading, but if you really want to have a true Lindsey experience go read her older novels and see why she was once so great.
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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Ghost Writer?, August 26, 2006
ANOTHER Lindsey book I couldn't finish.
I have come to believe the publishing company is using a "ghost writer" to pen the "Johanna Lindsey" novels. If you compare her early books...especially the Mallory novels...to her later novels, the quality, maturity and depth of the writing that made her early books so good is obviously not in the later books. I would even go so far as to say that her latest books haven't even been written by the same "ghost"...some are so shallow and silly I am amazed the publisher let them be attached to the Lindsey name.
Johanna Lindsey used to be on my "buy hardcover" list. Now I won't even buy paperback...either I get a book from the library or used...preferably from the library so I'm not paying for a book I won't finish.
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15 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Wonderful as always, June 21, 2006
I stayed up late last night to finish 'Captive of My Desires'. It was amazing, just like the rest of Lindsay's books. And unlike some of the usual romances, this book actually showed sufficient interaction between the two characters to depict them as enjoying each other's company and conversation.
The storyline was also fairly original. Gabrielle leaves England after her mother dies to search for her father, a man she rarely got to see and knew little about. She discovers that her father has been a pirate, actually more of a 'treasure hunter', before she was even born. She spends the next three years sailing the seas with him and his crew, searching for treasures. After three years of this, however, Gabby's father realizes that Gabby should have a season in London to find a husband, just as her mother would have wanted. Gabrielle would prefer to not go, but she doesn't put up too much of a fight. She is sponsored in London by one of her father's old pirate friends, James Malory, and James's wife George. George's brother Drew also happens to be visiting at the same time Gabby arrives. There is an immediate attraction, but they can't do anything about it because Gabrielle is wanting a husband, and Drew doesn't ever want to commit to marriage.
Unfortunately for Gabrielle, Drew causes her to be part of a scandal, and right after she learns of it, she finds out that her father is being held hostage, and the ransom the captor wants is Gabrielle. Gabrielle now needs a ship that can immediately sail, and she is also enraged with Drew, so as payback, she and some of her father's old crew take over Drew's ship. Drew, of course, is furious that she took over his ship, and he is chained in his cabin, powerless.
But Drew does hold some power over Gabby. They are hopelessly attracted to each other. It makes for a very interesting voyage.
You really must read this classic Malory novel. It is flawlessly written as usual, and is a powerful love story. I've fallen in love with Drew. (Of course, I'm also in love with all the Malory men.) Wonderful job, Ms. Lindsay.
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