The Duke of Mercia (Christian) has finally been released by
the French after being held prisoner and tortured for
several months. He finds that in his absence, his wife and
infant son have died. All that keeps him going now is his
desire for revenge on his former captors. Almost
immediately upon his release, he is visited by Gilly, who is
his late wife's cousin. She has helped take care of his
surviving daughter, Lucy, who is now not speaking and
desperately needs her father. Gilly convinces Christian to
return to his country home where his daughter is staying,
and he convinces her to return there as well, to help him.
Christian is drastically changed from the proud man he used
to be. He is scarred, both mentally and physically, and he
barely is able to eat enough to stay alive. He suffers
fears and nightmares, and tries to hide it by speaking in a
calm voice, not showing emotion, and maintaining control.
Gilly instinctively seems to know just what to do and say.
She encourages him without pushing him too hard. Christian
is almost immediately drawn to her, and soon they are
sharing small touches. Their burgeoning affection soon
turns passionate and they begin a love affair.
It's remarkable to see how Gilly brings Christian back. The
torture he endured was brutal, the kind that many wouldn't
be able to recover from. But now, though he loves Gilly, he
can't give up the thought of finding and killing his former
captor. He knows this may cost him Gilly, but he can't seem
to help himself.
I found that I could not put down THE CAPTIVE. The romance
was poignant and touching, and the threads of the events
happening were woven together by Grace Burrowes to form an
emotional, well paced book, one of my very favorites by her.
I am most anxious to see what magic she will weave in book
two of this series. Can she possibly make me accept the
captor as a hero? I can't wait to find out.
He'll never be free...
Captured and tortured by the French, Christian Severn, Duke
of Mercia, survives by vowing to take revenge on his
tormentors. Before the duke can pursue his version of
justice, Gillian, Countess of Greendale, reminds him that
his small daughter has suffered much in his absence, and
needs her papa desperately.
Until he surrenders his heart...
Gilly endured her difficult marriage by avoiding
confrontation and keeping peace at any cost. Christian's
devotion to his daughter and his kindness toward Gilly give
her hope that she could enjoy a future with him, for surely
he of all men shares her loathing for violence in any form.
Little does Gilly know, the battle for Christian's heart is
only beginning.