64 of 72 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
THE MOST SENSUOUS & EROTIC THRILL RIDE FROM MS. CHASE......., January 6, 2000
The scalding HOT sexual tension virtually burned a hole thru' the pages. The murder web is relentlessly spun with unexpected twists & turns that at times it felt like reading an Agatha Christie - the longer, romantic version. Unless you're an antecedent of the likes of Poirot & Holmes, you'll be left awestruck by the stunning ending. I confess that of 7 Chase novels that I've devoured so far, this one is the most remarkable. No, my sides didn't hurt quite like when I read her other hysterically funny efforts. The only humor you'll find here is when the mighty Dowager (from THE LION'S DAUGHTER) shows up to wreak havoc on those happen to be in the vicinity. After I read the prequel, I understood more how the dashing, cool Esmond became the man that He was. He's my 1st golden-haired perfection that I fell in love with (dark-haired rogues were more attractive before he came along). I truly wish Ms Chase would be so kind as to write another book that'll give me a glimpse of Esmond & Leila. How beautiful their children must be, having a fiery temptress as a mother & an electrifying knock-out as a father. But then again, I need to get a life =P ; )
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21 of 24 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Loretta Chase, May 9, 2000
Compte d'Esmond has desired Leila Beaumont forever, but has been unable to do anything about his feelings for the beautiful portrait painter because she's already married.
Leila's faithless, drug-addicted husband is murdered and Leila finds herself accused of doing the dirty deed. She turns to the powerful Compte d'Esmond for help and soon finds herself in a passionate affair with the enigmatic aristocrat.
This is book 2 in the 4 book series. Book one (out of print) is The Lion's Daughter. Book three is Lord of Scoundrels. Book four is The Last Hellion.
This novel is well written and very passionate, but having read books 3 and 4 first, I found it lacking in comparison. It doesn't have the humor and wit of three and four. Still, the plot is well developed and the relationship between the hero and heroine is intriguing. This is well worth the purchase.
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28 of 34 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Completely Engrossing, March 5, 2001
I started this book one night right before my bedtime, figuring it at least would give me something to do, and wound up reading until four in morning! I found CAPTIVES to be completely engrossing--really one of the best romances I've ever read.
The Comte d'Esmond is one of those dark, dangerous, and romantic types (think Heathcliffe or Rochester from the Bronte novels), looking for redemption for past sins. The heroine is Leila Beaumont, another very fascinating character who is strong, tough, and intelligent--but also very passionate and kind--and Chase does an excellent job of showing us the different facets of her personality.
The plot is also excellent: Leila and Esmond are trying to discover who killed her husband, and since he was a reeeally nasty character, the list of suspects includes just about everyone they know. It's a mystery that is more well-written than those in most mystery novels I've read, and I kept guessing until the end who the killer was, just as Leila and Esmond were.
CAPTIVES OF THE NIGHT is not like LORD OF SCOUNDRELS, with a lot of "cute" scenes--it's not a book that tells its story scene by scene; rather, it unravels, revealing the secrets of the characters line by line, pulling you into their world. By the end of this novel, I felt like I knew Leila and Esmond personally, and I was EXTREMELY happy that I had bought this book. I would even consider buying it in hardcover, it was that good. CAPTIVES OF THE NIGHT is, well... captivating.
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