Customer Reviews

A Stolen Heart

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

In 1811, Massachusetts shipping magnate Alexandra Ward comes to England accompanied by her mother and aunt to close out an agreement with the Burchings Tea Company. However, the English aristocratic owner of the tea company, Lord Sebastian Thorpe, never attends a negotiation session. Instead, his business agent Lyman Jones works out the contract with Alexandra. After completing the deal, Alexandra blackmails Lyman into introducing her to Sebastian. In fact, Alexandra wants to see Sebastian's famous India art collection.

Intrigued by the bold American, Sebastian invites Alexandra to attend a ball with him. At the soiree, Countess Exmoor faints when she sees Alexandra, who looks almost like the elderly woman's deceased daughter-in-law Simone. The next day Alexandra meets the countess who explains that Simone, her spouse (Exmoor's son), and their three children died during the French terror of 1789. A portrait of Simone shows how similar Alexandra looks to the ill-fated woman. Other coincidences surface. As Alexandra wonders about her past, an unknown assailant who probably knows the truth, tries to kill her. She feels her life is safe only with Lord Thorpe, but her heart is another matter altogether.

A STOLEN HEART is a magnificent Regency novel that demonstrates why Candace Camp is one of the top romance writers of the past few years. The story line is filled with excitement as the dire events of 1789 begin to focus to Alexandra and Sebastian. The lead couple is an exhilarating pair with American self-assuredness meeting English aristocratic superiority. Readers will take pleasure in this sizzling tale and earnestly await publication of the next two stories starring Alexander's siblings.

Harriet Klausner

I loved "So Wild a Heart", and on the strength of that book, I bought some other books by Candace Camp. So far, I have not found another book that is as interesting. Certainly it was not this one, even thought I am not unglad that I read it, as it starts off a series, but this book on its own did not pull me in. It was certainly a pleasant read, and even though some other reviewers complained about the extra-ordinary amount of kidnappings I did not find that a terribly impossible scenario - I think it was just the way it was dealt with that made it come across as a little unlikely.

In this book, we have Alexandra, one of Candace Camp's independent and self-possessed heroines, meet Lord Sebastian Thorpe. Alexandra's family owns a shipping company, and she uses business as an excuse to visit Lord Sebastian - as she really wants to see his Indian collection. As is on par for Ms. Camp's heroines, she refuses to be cowed by the haughty and ufriendly Lord Sebastian, and Sebastian responds well to her methods, so that at the end, we have a match.

Maybe it was just me, but I just could never quite warm up to Alexandra, or Sebastian. I never quite found that "spark" in either of them that would make me want to read more about them, nor did I find their characters to get developed in any meaningful way. As a result, I think that for me this book pretty much rested on the plot, which was okay, but not enough to keep me riveted to the page.

I really like Candace Camp's writing style, and there was nothing particularly jarring about this story, but in the end there was nothing to really recommend this book either. A pleasant, but average read, only three stars.

I must have read a different book again! What a boring story line. At the end of the book, I asked myself where the romance was. When did these two characters fall in love? True, I have been reading a lot of paranormal romance lately, and maybe my taste in this genre has changed. But, this is not a 5, 4, 3, or 2 star book. The only book from this author I have enjoyed was "The Dangerous Man." Don't buy this book, borrow it from the library or buy in for a quarter at your nearest garage sale. One star for effort!

As a fan of Candace Camp and because I had read the second book in this series I bought A Stolen Heart and was very anxious to read it. I found it to be a good book even though it started out slow. I enjoyed the characters, especially Alexandra and Lord Sebastian Thorpe. My only complaint with this book is all the situations Alexandra found herself in. I mean first she's kidnapped and taken to a brothel and then at a ballon show someone tries to abduct her and while Lord Thorpe is trying to rescue her they somehow end up in the ballon and are floating away to destinations unknown. And then to top it off are picked up by a highwayman. How many situations like this can one find themselves in? Except for this I thought the book was really fantastic and couldn't put it down until I read the last word. Definitely a keeper!

I love to read stories with strong chracters. Here comes Alexandra, a strong, determined, and outspoken American who is a business owner in a man's world. She meets Sebastian (Lord Thorpe). He is intriqued by this beautiful American and can't believe that she is what she appears to be. Is she really the busines owner she claims? Is she really the good hearted and honest woman that he wants to believe in? There are a lot of twists and turns in this delightful romance. It keeps you guessing up until the end who is good and who isn't so good. Have a fun time visiting Regency England.

This book started well and captured my interest with the heroine as a good strong character and the hero an interesting mix. But, unfortunately, the "sexual tension" kept interfering with the story. I mean at one point the heroine is abducted, drugged, and about to be violated in a brothel and when the hero comes in to rescue her his first concern is his libido! This circumstance happened throughout the book and I found it to be bothersome. Not a bad book, but not a keeper either. Borrow, don't buy.

The book started out strong and the heroine seemed like a strong independent thinking woman. Then about half way through, she fell apart--weepy and all. Where did her strength go? I couldn't reconcile what had happened so far to the deterioration in her character. And then it just kept getting worse. By the end I was forcing myself to finish the book.

The hero started out strong and didn't suffer from the same dramatic decline as the heroine, but he sure went downhill. Lusting after a drugged woman and then getting drunk and taking her virtue (luckily not the same evening or I would have dropped the rating to a 1)... Come on, he was not a very convincing hero.

The plot in the beginning had promise, then it seemed to get away from the author. It seemed like the author had started the story without figuring out how to bring it to a reasonable conclusion. Unrealistic happenings were the mark of a desparate writer--a runaway air balloon and a fight with a villain had me rolling my eyes.

It was a shame because I usually like Candace Camp's books, but this one was a waste of an evening. I gave it a 3 only out respect for Ms. Camp and because the opening premise was sound. So much promise wasted.

It is always great to read about a strong, smart heroine in a regency romance novel. On top of that, she runs her own business which is refreshing. The attraction between the two characters were believable from the start and you want them to get it together so badly throughout the novel. The story about Alexandra's parents & background is also very interesting. I kept looking for signs of her brother and sister in the book. Will there be a story about the highwayman that help them? This is a great story with great characters that pull you in.

A Stolen Heart is an interesting read with both romance and intrigue. Intelligent, forthright, capable Alexandra finds herself immediately attracted to her new, somewhat reclusive business partner, Lord Thorpe. Then she finds herself repeatedly in danger. As they try to unravel the mystery--a mystery that includes her real identity and his doubts about her true purpose and trustworthiness--their attraction just grows.

Sometimes this book is thoroughly entertaining; other times it stretches credulity. Sometimes the characters & situations seem vital and fresh; other times it seems a rehash of every romance ever written. All-in-all, it's an enjoyable read, but there are moments of disappointment and frustration. While decent, it's not one of Camp's best. Perhaps it's just too farfetched at times; perhaps there's not enough character development.

Ii enjoyed it, but wouldn't buy it.

When I first started this story, I thought it fit the standard formula pretty well. I hoped it would pick up by adding a twist or two. Well- did it EVER! Wow! This book was great! Alexandra was so likable as the outspoken American heroine and Sebastian - YUM! A really sexy hero! They were immediately attracted to each other and the romance scenes were really well done. That would have been enough, but Camp added tons of great adventure and "barely-catch-your-breath" action. I must say I enjoyed every minute of this book. A sequel is being released this August which features the "lost" sister, Marie Anne. I can hardly wait!