Customer Reviews

Captive of My Desires (Malory Family Series)

5 star:		(23)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(19)
2 star:		(20)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

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.

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.

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.

Sadly, I have to say I was gravely dissapointed with this book. I had even read the previous reviews and I thought they were just bored with Johanna Lidnsey and the book wasnt bad itself, but alas, it was.

When I first read the summary of this book, I was so thrilled. A woman takes a man and his ship captive, then the tables turn and she's the captive. Classic Johanna Lindsey storyline there, but something is missing.

Firstly, you never hear Drew's point of veiw. Maybe 4 SHORT times in the book you see his thoughts and emotions, but its all Gabrielle. Romance....what romance? I didn't see them fall in love. All they did to me was have sex and take a few walks along the deck. Shoot, Drew doesn't even speak of the word until page 305, and theres only 311 pages in the book! Gabrielle finds herself in love about 20-25 pages from the end, but I didn't see any romance. The lovemaking descriptions are quick and boring at best. The first time, oh my Lord...I had to put my book down because it was just too absurd. I don't know about Gabrielle, but if I woke up to find my dream was reality, I wouldn't be that willing. There was too much other stuff going on in this book...if I didn't know the book was about Gabrielle and Drew to start with, I might have had a time figuring it out.

So here I am, writing a bad review along with the others that I found hard to believe. But I had to find out for myself. I can honestly say that the only reason I finished this book rather than stopping 3 quarters way in frustration is because I hate to leave a book unfinished, and I wondered what other ridiculous thing might happen.

There's quite a few reviews on this novel that give overviews of the plotline so I won't bore anyone with repition of that. I can say that I believe someone has stolen the Lindsey. That's what I figure as the last few novels seem like they have been written by someone else. Lindsey was always on my automatic buy list - she's written some truly memorable novels (The 'older' Mallory novels are awesome). I keep feeling compelled to buy her novels, out of loyalty I suppose, but then I'm just let down in the end. This one is passable I suppose but it's just not the same Lindsey so whoever has taken her, please send her back.

I have to agree with the other readers of Johanna Lindsey that her books have gone downhill recently. It's almost as if someone else has taken over the use of her name (which I'm sure isn't the case, since she does have a unique voice and style) or she's brainstorming with a new agent/publisher and letting them put their own spin on the books - it just doesn't 'sound' like her older work. I know evolution is part of the writing process, but (as many others have pointed out in reviews for her books over the last five years) hers seems to be devolving instead.

For example - something I noticed in this book (which may be very relevant in her other books, but never drew my attention) was that she rapidly jumped locations. I would expect the next segment/chapter to pick up at roughly the same time and it would be the next day or weeks later. It was jarring for the reader (at least, for this reader) and disappointing. After a particularly big moment in which the hero reveals a secret about the heroine, we're left with the cliffhanger of the secret coming out. Turn the page to read the outcome and it's the next morning and the heroine is going downstairs to visit with a friend. To be fair, there is a brief synopsis of what happened after the reveal, but it's not nearly as enjoyable as what we were led up to.

And while I didn't hate Captive of My Desires, I didn't like it either. It one of those that I was glad I checked out at the library. However, it was much better than last year's book (Marriage Most Scandalous - 2005) but I enjoyed Jeremy's story (A Loving Scoundrel - 2004) much more than I enjoyed this one. Captive had promise and I enjoyed it when it was set in London, but once they went aboard the ship, I lost interest - I finished the book, but it didn't hold the same appeal.

The biggest problem I had with the book was Drew. I've really enjoyed Drew's appearances in all of the other Malory novels (notably, Say You Love Me) and was looking forward to him having his own book, but it was such a disappointment. I felt what a lot of reader's seem to feel in being let-down by Jeremy's story a couple of years ago (I was never drawn to Jeremy, although I liked him, so I didn't dread or anticipate his story). Drew was always fun-loving with a quick wit and I was hoping he would find a heroine who would be able to match him comment for comment.

And while Gabby is a pretty good heroine, Drew does some horrible things (verbally) to her and shows no remorse for any of it. He does have a brief flash of guilt at one point in the story, but it's not focused on. The man ruined her reputation (mentioned in the summary on the inner cover of the book, so this is not a huge plot reveal) and made snide comments to her throughout the entire book. I was hoping Gabby would either surprise him with a right-hook or walk off and leave him to actually realize what he'd been saying to and about her.

Drew was much too cynical in this one and Gabby didn't have as much of a backbone as we were led to believe. After stating that she wouldn't marry the man if he begged her on his knees, she's putty with him a couple of pages later. I don't think I'm alone in saying that the heroine who turns to mush every time the hero kisses her is a tired cliche. Yes, it's fun once or twice, but Ms. Lindsey seems to use that as a fallback device for getting her characters out of their more irritable dispositions and back into the bedroom.

That being said, I truly didn't hate the book, but I won't be buying it in paperback either. It definitely doesn't rank among her worst books (which I classify as The Heir and/or The Pursuit) but it's not among her best, either. My favorites that she has written are Once a Princess, Love Only Once - the first Malory novel, and Prisoner of My Desire.

I really hope The Devil Who Tamed Her continues to show that the author is improving and getting back to her old story-telling capabilities, but I'll be checking it out from the library before I buy it.

I love Johanna Lindsey. I will read anything that she writes, even if I do occasionally get burned. That being said, this book burned me badly. The hero and heroine have little, if any chemistry. The story lacks depth. The action/turning point is virtually nonexistent. And even the bad guy doesn't do anything to make him so terrible. Really, it's a waste of your time.

I firmly believe that since Lindsey started writing in the late 70's and has continued to be a prolific author for nearly 30 years, that she's just churning out nonsense now. She's told all the good stories there were to tell, and her best work is right around the midpoint in the late 80's and early nineties. Don't believe me? Check out Prisoner of My Desire and Love Me Forever. Then check out her newer works like Heart of A Warrior and Captive of My Desire. The truth will be as plain as day.

If I could give this zero stars I would. This book has another obnoxious, abusive, selfish, self-centered rapist as a hero. He even offers to make amends for raping her by not turning her over to the police.

After raping her, he chains her to a wall after making sure he had taken away the ability to rescue her father.

I couldn't finish this book. I knew the heroine would forgive the rapist and I just wanted him dead.

Dear Readers:

Ms. Lindsey and her editor were sleeping through this installment of the Malory family saga. Not only does Ms. Lindsey not deliver with her usual witty dialogue and description, she leaves the reader wondering where the plot went. Captive of My Desires has few redeeming qualities. You're not sure if Drew and Gabby are truly even interested in one another or being manipulated to fit into the author's plot when it's there. The dialogue is stilted and forced and the plot trite and full of holes. The ending is contrived and unrealistic. Sadly, the only interesting part of the book was catching up with the Malory family. I'm sorry to say this book is a shipwreck and not worth the $25.00 I had to pay for it.

I was so looking forward to this book and what a let down. Compared to the Drew Anderson discussed in the earlier books, the character portrayed in this book is a complete jerk and boor. He is so rude to Gabrielle!! I cannot believe she could fall in love with a man who was that rude and snobby to her about her heritage. Drew's feelings are never fully expressed and the ending is so rushed and corny. I'm giving the book three stars because Gabrielle and her plots amused me, because I got to see James and Georgina and more of their children. I hope Lindsey's next book is better constructed and the characters aren't so different from how they were portrayed earlier in the series.