Reviews for The Captive Heart

The average rating for The Captive Heart based on 2 reviews is 3.5 stars.

Review # 1 was written on 2014-01-10 00:00:00 Hunter Zickrick The only reason I did not rate this book five stars is because I am highly upset at the ending of the novel. Without giving anything away too badly I will just say that a character was killed that I believe should have been spared. It was something I really didn't expect, and it made me incredibly sad. I felt that character could have gone on to make a fantastic other novel and so to see said character be killed was just horrific. Other than that I loved the book. Bertrice Small is one of my favorite authors and continues to be so. I have read quite a few of her books and fell in love with them, and I cannot wait to read more. She never disappoints on keeping the reader captivated in the story and the characters become alive. In this particular novel I loved Alex Givet. She accepted her fate when it was due, stood her ground in her beliefs, and was incredibly strong portrayed for a woman in those times. I love how she wasn't claimed to be beautiful above all even though some found her so it was clearly stated there were other's more beautiful than she. It seemed to make it less fabricated and more believable as I read. Easier to picture events playing out in my head. Malcolm Scott, however, infuriated me more than once. So stubborn and allowing some to get away with more than a border lord should have in those days. Some of it inexcusable. There were many points in this novel I did not think he was aggressive enough for certain situations and do not know why he pondered on things so long before he took action. When you read the story you will know what I mean. While he did get things done in the end he is a character that seems to take too long to do them. But all in all I would say this a juicy, fantastic read! I was kept at the edge of my seat many a times wondering what would happen next, how things would end up, etc. It's definitely a book that keeps you guessing and captivated up until the very last sentence. If your like me, a lover of historical fiction and romance, you will find yourself quickly invested in some of the characters. I felt as if I was right there watching it all unfold. I felt myself close to tears at some points, and holding my breath at others waiting to see what would come next.

Review # 2 was written on 2012-02-24 00:00:00 Nicola Freidanck Not the Best in the Border Chronicles Series I have become a fan of Bertrice Small and have enjoyed all the Border Chronicles but this is certainly the weakest of the series to my mind, and I have read all that are out. Frankly, since they are not really connected (except possibly the first two), I would just skip this one. Here's the Border Chronicles series in order: A Dangerous Love The Border Lord's Bride The Captive Heart The Border Lord and the Lady The Border Vixen Bond of Passion But for those of you considering The Captive Heart, I'll give you my review. The story begins on March 29, 1461 with the Battle of Towton in which the Lancasters were soundly defeated in a bloody encounter with the Yorkists. The Lancaster king, Henry VI of England, flees to Scotland along with his queen, Margaret of Anjou. Traveling with them was the queen's physician and his daughter, Alix Givet. In Northumbria, they lodge with a baron, Sir Udolf Watteson. When it appears that Alix's father is not well enough to continue traveling, an arranged marriage of the 16-year-old Alix to the baron's son is hastily arranged by the queen and Alix's father. But the son has a mistress he loves and resents the marriage and treats Alix horribly. When her husband takes his own life and his father the baron wants to take Alix as his wife, Alix flees to Scotland. Much of the story concerns the baron's continual pursuit of Alix. In Scotland and traveling on foot, Alix encounters an early snowstorm and takes refuge with some long-haired cattle. Half frozen, she is saved from death by the men of a handsome border laird, Malcolm Scott. Malcolm was betrayed by his first wife who, the story goes, was found dead on the moors after Malcolm killed her lover. Malcolm has a young 6-year-old daughter from that marriage who is charming and needs a mother. Alix offers to stay and teach the daughter to become a lady and Malcolm, who has no intention of remarrying, agrees. Soon Malcolm wants the beautiful Alix in his bed and takes her for his mistress. That's the basic set up for the story. I liked the hero and heroine and the 6-year-old daughter with whom you will fall in love. The negatives for me in this story were three twisted individuals, including the baron and his son, and some weird pacing in the story. It was a bit slow in the middle and then at the end too much happened too fast and Alix's forgiveness of Malcolm's deception was too quick in coming. There was also some abusive sex by one of the twisted characters that I could have done without. All in all, I like Bertrice Small but I cannot recommend this one. I'm giving it 3 stars for the fact she still tells a story that will hold your interest.