Le chef du clan

Captive Hearts #3

by Grace Burrowes

La rumeur le disait mort à la guerre. Pourtant, Michael Brodie revient dans son fief des Highlands, impatient de retrouver son épouse qui s’est morfondue pendant neuf longues années. Il avait laissé une gamine potelée, encore innocente, il découvre une beauté à la chevelure flamboyante, mais aussi une femme qui a dû se débrouiller seule et n’a plus besoin de lui. Séduit, Michael entend bien la conquérir, et, très vite, il s’aperçoit que la partie n’est pas gagnée. Brenna refuse farouchement ses baisers. Peut-être ignore-t-il les batailles qu’elle a dû livrer en son absence et les secrets qu’elle dissimule ?

Genres: Romance, Historical Romance, Historical, Historical Fiction, Regency, Fiction, Scotland

384 pages, Paperback

First published September 2, 2014

About the author

Grace Burrowes started writing as an antidote to empty nest and soon found it an antidote to life in general. She is the sixth out of seven children, raised in the rural surrounds of central Pennsylvania. Early in life she spent a lot of time reading romance novels and practicing the piano. Her first career was as a technical writer and editor in the Washington, DC, area, a busy job that nonetheless left enough time to read a lot of romance novels.

It also left enough time to grab a law degree through an evening program, produce Beloved Offspring (only one, but she is a lion), and eventually move to the lovely Maryland countryside.

While reading yet still more romance novels, Grace opened her own law practice, acquired a master's degree in Conflict Transformation (she had a teenage daughter by then) and started thinking about writing.... romance novels. This aim was realized when Beloved Offspring struck out into the Big World a few years ago. ("Mom, why doesn't anybody tell you being a grown-up is hard?")

Grace eventually got up the courage to start pitching her manuscripts to agents and editors. The query letter that resulted in "the call" started out: "I am the buffoon in the bar at the RWA retreat who could not keep her heroines straight, could not look you in the eye, and could not stop blushing--and if that doesn't narrow down the possibilities, your job is even harder than I thought." (The dear lady bought the book anyway.)

To contact Grace, email her at graceburrowes@yahoo.com.

Reviews

[WhiskeyintheJar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Some stories are hard to hear, that doesn't mean they shouldn't be told. All three books in the Captive series deal with abuse in all its forms and effects. The Laird is about child physical, sexual, and mental abuse, I mention this because of how this can be a trigger for some but know that it is never gratuitous and except for two scenes it is more about the emotional trauma such acts can cause in individuals.

Michael Brodie is finally coming home after 9 years away at war and with very minimal communication between him and his home. The years he spent in France as a traitorous non-traitor (The Captive and The Traitor) have taken their toll; he is world weary and ready for his homeland and clan to soothe his tired spirit. Michael especially hopes the young bride he left behind will lead this forefront. Brenna Brodie may have been surrounded by home and hearth but like Michael, she lived a life full of fear and lacking security. When Brenna was sent to Michael's home as his betrothed she was only eight years old, lonely and feeling out of place she was befriended by Michael's uncle Angus. Angus groomed her and then preyed upon Brenna's insecurity for years until she hit early teenage years and began to understand something wasn't right. When Brenna turns sixteen, her and Michael are wed and on that night Brenna begs Michael to take her with him when he journeys to war. Michael, only twenty, was reeling from a recent incident that shattered his world and unable to process it, essentially escapes to war distancing himself from everyone that knows him and leaving Brenna behind.

What follows is an extremely emotional read about not only two people trying to overcome and manage traumatic events but how friends, family, and communities cope with the dark realities of life. The heart of this story is Michael and Brenna trying to traverse the vast distance years and circumstances has created between them. This is a slow moving story but at the same time, I flew through it as I was completely absorbed and invested in Michael and Brenna together and separately. The awkwardness and yearning the two demonstrate made me pull for them right in the beginning. Michael even with his scars from the war remembers Brenna as his cherished childhood friend and with every interaction and observation grows to love Brenna as the woman she is now. As the events swirling about Brenna are mostly the catalyst for the heart of the story, she is what readers will focus on and what a heartbreaking and inspiring character she is. The shame, guilt, anxiety, strength, heart, and endurance Brenna displays make her a character you will not soon forget. The gentleness and understanding Michael gives to Brenna and Brenna's simple trying makes you want to simply clutch this book to your chest and weep for them. While the ending may leave some to bemoan Uncle Angus not getting his just rewards, the healing Brenna and others exhibit is satisfying enough for me.

I am very fond of the first two books in the series, but The Laird, it stole a piece of my heart. When someone mocks or claims romance genre books are trashy, simplistic, or otherwise unworthy, this is the book you point them to. There is a subtleness to Ms. Burrowes writing that has me hooked and will have me looking at her backlist and watching for new releases. Some stories are hard to hear, there is in where their beauty lies.

[Caz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've given this an A- at AAR, but am leaving it at 5 stars

This is the final book in Ms Burrowes’ Captive Hearts trilogy, which has focused on three men who were profoundly affected by their experiences during the Napoleonic Wars. In the previous book, The Traitor, we learned that Michael Brodie, half-Scot, half-Irish, had been sent to protect Sebastian St. Clair – or Robert Girard as he was then known – while he carried out his work as an interrogator in the French army. The reasoning behind Michael’s deployment was complicated (basically, Sebastian had proved himself a valuable asset to the British and Wellington wanted him kept there and kept safe), and also meant that, even after the cessation of hostilities, Michael felt unable to go home given the frequency of the threats made against St Clair’s life.

The Laird is the story of Michael’s homecoming and of all the difficulties he has to face upon coming back to the land he has not seen for nine years and, more importantly, the bride he left after their (unconsummated) wedding night. The overall tone of the story is somewhat different to the other two and, indeed, to many others of Ms Burrowes’ books, but it is no less compelling for that.

Michael’s wife, Brenna, was sixteen when they married, having been brought up at Castle Brodie since the age of eight. After their wedding, she begged Michael to take her to France with him, but not wanting to subject her to that sort of hardship, he refused. He also refused to consummate their marriage because he didn’t want to leave her pregnant – although as the story progresses, we discover there was another reason behind that decision. And he also had no way of knowing that Brenna’s desperation to leave with him was due to more than the unwillingness of a bride to be separated from her new husband. Michael concedes that Brenna has every right to be angry with him for his extended absence, but there is something else behind her wall of cool stand-offishness that he can’t quite work out.

So Michael has returned to a wife he barely knows and who is full of anger, resentment and, he is surprised to realise, fear - as well as to a home and lands which are much changed since he left. The estate is failing, his tenants are wary of him, and, for no reason he can fathom, have taken his wife into active dislike. Even though she has provided financial assistance to those who have defaulted on their tenancies and then decided to make a life overseas rather than to scrape a meagre existence in the large coastal towns, and even though she continues to help the community as best she can, Brenna is treated with discourtesy and thinly veiled hostility.

In his absence, his uncle Angus has been responsible for running the estate, and he soon realises that there is no love lost between his uncle and his wife – and that his uncle is widely disliked among the tenants. Then into the midst of estate troubles and marital issues, his youngest sister, Maeve arrives from Ireland, resentful at being sent away from the only home she has ever known to the care of a brother she’s never met and who doesn’t appear to have any time for her.

The Laird is an emotionally charged story – not just in terms of the romance, but in all the other factors which come into play. At its heart is the very dark topic of child abuse, and the way in which one character preys upon the loneliness and isolation felt by a child sent into an unfamiliar environment. I’m no expert, but the way the author has written this particular character (and it’s not difficult to work out who it is from very early on in the book) feels very accurate and his actions are completely plausible. I should also warn readers that towards the end, Brenna describes the abuse she suffered, and while the description is quite specific, it is in no way gratuitous; Ms Burrowes treats the entire subject with great sensitivity, although she doesn’t sugar-coat anything.

The romance in The Laird is as beautifully written and developed as I have come to expect from this author. She has a lovely way with language, and her characters have a manner of speech which is completely unique to her, which is something I now look forward to each time I pick up one of her books. Michael is naturally eager to pursue his marital duties, but sensitive enough to realise that Brenna’s skittishness and dislike of casual and unexpected physical contact need to be treated both seriously and carefully. He also has his own demons to exorcise, so the couple has a very difficult path to tread. The way they come together – in mind, as well as in body – into a truly caring, mutually loving and supportive relationship is beautifully done.

[Kathie (katmom) · Rating 5 out of 5]

HAPPY RELEASE DAY!!! 9/2/2014

This is third book in the Captive Heart Series. It stands alone, but St. Clair and his wife from The Traitor make a very welcome appearance.

This series is darker than many historical romances. It deals with the real issue of child molestation and that may be a trigger for some. While I give that warning, I must also say that Ms. Burrowes deals with the subject matter in a very sensitive manner. I was impressed that she put an author's note at the beginning of the book stating that while the issues were hard, there would be an HEA. She also had me on the edge of my seat as I stayed up until 1:30 in the morning reading. The tension had me chewing my cuticles to the quick.

Brenna has been a wife in name only for nearly ten years after her new husband joins his regiment the morning after their unconsummated wedding night. In the intervening years she's had to put up with loneliness, gossip about her abandonment, and has been labelled a thief. With only one or two short letters from her wayward husband, she's kept the castle and the land going strong as she waited for Michael's return. He's been working for King and Country, undercover. So she has also put up with rumors of his treason.

She's not that impressed when he comes back a Baron, which makes her a Baroness. Now, I was worried about cheating...he has been gone for so very long. I am glad to note that there was none, whew! That's always a hard line for me.

Michael is a very patient man. I loved that about him. He knows what he wants and he's willing to work for it, without pushing Brenna beyond what she can handle. He's also very observant and he works carefully to keep her comfortable in his pursuit of her. He notices that she's a bit skittish...and he wonders as to why that should be.

When the secrets are laid bare, as we all know they must be, I wanted to hug them both. Once again Grace Burrowes fills the shadows with unraveling threads and then lets us see them knit back together. While it is a darker novel, there is joy in the way these two finally come together.

The supporting cast of the St. Clairs, her cousins, Maeve (Michael's little sister), and assorted villagers fill the pages with depth.

I enjoyed the book very much. The joy to be found was worth the anxiety I felt as I read through the night. I highly recommend this book.

Thank you, NetGalley and Sourcebooks Casablanca, for the opportunity to read The Laird

[Sandi *~The Pirate Wench~* · Rating 4 out of 5]

Setting: Regency England

4 1/2 Stars

The Laird is the third book in the Captive Hearts series, and what a great book to finish this trilogy!
Michael and Brenna's story is disconnected from the other two except for the backdrop of the Napoleonic War.
It is also a different "second chance" at love story than the others as well.
I found it to be slower in pace and less dynamic (a good thing for this one) as it worked well and was tender and touching, but still had the author's usual flare to create a powerful conflict between the hero and heroine.
I found it to be a very sweet and sensitive romance this time, and some readers like myself will savor Michael and Brenna's story or may feel less satisfied because of these elements.
However, for this reader this trilogy will remain on my to re-read keeper shelf.

Shortly after Michael and Brenna's wedding Michael Brodie leaves his young bride to go and fight for England.
He stays away almost 10 years before finally returning home to the Highlands.
Yet, Michael comes home not only older but wiser and is certainly not prepared for the strong willed, confident and very angry woman that he married long ago.
Brenna has felt betrayed by her husband's defection and is no way ready to forget and forgive him. Though she is furious with him for leaving her to deal with so many problems, Brenna quietly and meekly allows Michael to reclaim his place as laird.
Brenna fears though that the terrible family secrets she is hiding will destroy not only the clan, but in Michael's belief in those he trusts and their second chance at a happy marriage.
After reading The Captive trilogy by author Grace Burrowes, I certainly plan on reading more of her romances.
And that's saying a lot considering I much prefer the older romance novels than the "tried and true" "same ole same" newer ones out these days.
Nicely done and highly recommend!

[Sometime · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this book over a week ago and haven't been able to figure out how to review it. I still don't know how to review it. I'm going to suggest that you read the other reviews that give a synopsis of the book. Suffice it to say, this book was heavier than the normal Grace Burrowes story. The H/h are both wonderful characters and there are secrets that are slowly unveiled. I had a hard time liking the H for quite a while, but he is so sweet, and tries so hard, that I soon began to like him. I also had so many questions about why he did what he did, and some of those answers don't come until near the end. When all is revealed, everything makes sense but left me feeling so sad.

Overall, this was a nice romance with great H/h, but be ready for a darker than usual read.

Safety h is a virgin, she was married at 16, H left that night never consummating the marriage and never writing. The H has been celibate since the wedding. (It was never discussed, but I was curious if the H had been with OW while betrothed to the h. They had been betrothed when she was 8 and he was 14. They went on and on about how he was protective of her and cared about her, but no mention was made if he was a virgin?) No cheating, no OM/OW drama. Child sexual abuse, grooming, villain gets comeuppance, but I wanted worse for all the pain caused. Pushing away by h when H comes back after 9 years thinking he can just jump right back into their life and pick up where he left off. NOT! The h keeps her distance for quite a long time and makes him earn her trust and prove himself.

[MsChris1161 · Rating 4 out of 5]

THE LAIRD, the third book in the Captive Hearts series by Grace Burrowes, who I have considered a master storyteller for quite some time was indeed a captivating story. The Laird goes beyond the long delayed reunion of Michael and Brenna Brodie to the heart of the love, loyalty and sacrifices they have made during the nearly ten years of separation and what it has cost them both.

I was excited to finally get to read Michael's story. He was so mysterious in The Captive and in The Traitor so I was definitely curious to learn more about him. Apparently Michael married Brenna, a young woman, who he had been betrothed to since he was thirteen. Her parents sent her to live in his family's castle when she was just a child and he was advised by his father that as his future wife it was his job to look after her and protect her. He took that to heart and as they grew up he came to love and cherish her. But the morning after their marriage he still left to serve King and country in the war against the Corsican. Michael left the son of a Scottish Laird and an Irish Lady, but came home the Laird himself due to his father's passing during the time he was away. His mother had taken his younger sisters and moved back to Ireland before his father had even passed. This left Brenna the Lady of the castle and in charge but also at the mercy of Michael's father's brother, who she rightly does not trust, for help running the estate. A man who had his reasons for not wanting Brenna there and a man who enjoyed the power he held over her people as the acting steward of the castle and it's tenants.

Grace writes Michael and Brenna with a true, abiding and very loyal love for each other. Neither of them were unfaithful in any way to their marriage vows despite the nearly a decade of separation. But they did each have their secrets and neither had an easy road. Both were in fact, in desperate situations and fighting a battle without true support from anyone else. Michael working undercover behind enemy lines and Brenna as the Lady of the castle with no husband to back her up and no trust from the very people she was charged to care for in her husband's absence. When Michael finally comes home from his responsibilities in the war and to the King, they are basically strangers who are not sure where they stand with each other. They had to essentially start over and come to know each other again. I loved how Michael took charge of this and set out to woo his bride. He was kind, humorous, and romantic, where Brenna wanted to be angry, pragmatic and sensible. I loved that Michael is patient with Brenna when she refuses him his marital rights. Instead of forcing the issue, he wins her trust and her heart. He intuitively knows that she is so guarded because she has been hurt and sets out to make her feel safe.

Brenna has loved Michael since she came to live in the castle as a lonely eight year old girl. He was her safe place then and as her husband quickly steps into that role for her again. She was hurt from his abandonment and I love that she does not give in easy to him. She is also holding secrets that she is afraid for Michael to learn of in fear he will not want her. She makes him prove he is sincere and will cherish her as he promised all those years ago.

Along with the reunion and love that grows and matures between Michael and Brenna, the Laird sensitively portrays the struggle and despair that pervades the life of a victim of child abuse. The betrayal when a trusted adult takes advantage of a child's love and innocence. The threats, shame and fear the abuser instills in the heart of his victims so that they keep his actions secret. Grace does an amazing job of unfolding these secrets little by little as Michael and Brenna's relationship grows. It is not an easy subject to read and it could not have been an easy subject to write, but I thought it was very well done. I felt the mystery and suspense it created added to the overall story without overpowering it.

I was happy to see Sebastian St. Clair and his bride, Milly come to visit and offer support to Michael. Maeve, Michael's eight year old sister was spunky and played an important role in the story. Brenna's cousins were very aloof for most of the book, until the end when all becomes clear and explains so much of their behavior. The ending itself I felt was wrapped up neatly, amazingly still had a wonderful HEA, and even a nicely done epilogue. 4 stars

~Complimentary copy downloaded from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

[Tin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Disclosure: I received this review copy for the release day event. Thank you to Grace Burrowes and Sourcebooks for the opportunity. Yes, this is an honest review.

* * *

As I was reading The Laird, I imagined Odysseus at the end of his travels and Penelope was waiting faithfully for him. Is that the end of the story?

For Grace Burrowes's Michael and Brenna, the homecoming is only the beginning of the story. Michael's been away at war for a number of years, and, when the war ended, he stayed two years more in London, without sending word to his wife about his welfare or whereabouts. Now he is home, and, to Michael's credit, he really isn't expecting much in terms of a welcome.

"Brenna is entitled to be exceedingly vexed with me. I was gone too long, I didn't write enough, and I should be made to pay in the coin of her choosing for as long as she pleases."

"Damn right. With interest."
- loc 1618

The word that came to mind when I sat down to write this review is "masterful" -- and it's a word that I've used only twice before in almost 3 years of blogging, but this is one of those books and Grace Burrowes is one of those authors that merit this adjective. Here's why:

The story could easily be a highly dramatic homecoming story with tearful confrontations and the like, but Grace Burrowes takes a very contained approach to the story. There are no big scenes and no soap-opera moments. It all simmers underneath the surface. I have to give Brenna credit for being such a heroic heroine. She has sacrificed her youth, her reputation, her very life to serve Michael's people, and she's never been recognised or appreciated for it, and, in fact, suffer their hushed speculations about why Michael left her to become a soldier (among other things). She was very young when they married, and then she was left to manage the castle when her mother-in-law decided to decamp to Ireland. Then her father-in-law, the former laird, dies and that leaves Brenna alone. She came into her own without much guidance, and without her husband -- and she had to figure out her own way. Life has taught Brenna very painful lessons, and Michael knows this -- but Brenna never talks about it, despite Michael's inquest. And this is a question I asked myself: Was it right for Brenna to keep silent about what happened to her?

We've seen Michael's story unfold slowly in The Captive and The Traitor , and there's been a lot of ambiguity in how the author has portrayed his character. Is he a deserter? Why did he stay with Sebastian? Even Milly, Sebastian's wife was a bit uncertain about whether she should trust Michael or not, but, we've seen his steadfastness and loyalty to Sebastian St. Clair, and we realise (later on) the tremendous sacrifices he has made for King and Country.

His own story, The Laird, shows us that life, marriage, war, and everything that happens are never one-sided. The idea of battle pervades this story -- and Michael and Brenna have both waged wars in their respective places. I love that Grace Burrowes does not discount Brenna's life or reduce it or diminish her struggle. This, of the three novels, is a perfect example of a domestic drama: Michael and Brenna's lives are tied to their people and the troubles of one are borne by the community (except Brenna's). It's enlightening to see the inner workings of a clan, of a castle waiting for it's master to return -- in the meantime, things go on as usual, but not "as usual" at the same time. Michael's return somewhat upsets the delicate truce that has been in place since he left -- there's a lot of cryptic hints about what has been happening in the castle and it takes a discerning eye and ear to figure out all the troubles that Brenna's been dealing with. In that Grace Burrowes elevates the "ordinary" concerns of a household -- the author shows us that the Brenna and Michael's struggles are the same and the sacrifices made are of equal weight and value.

"Who or what was supposed to comfort me, Michael Brodie? When I was told you'd gone over to the enemy? When I was told you were dead? When I imagined you captured by the French or worse?"
- loc 80

* * *

"You're saying Brenna faced a challenge."

"You never were stupid, Michael Brodie. Brenna faced a war. Your parents were too absorbed with their own dramatics, and everybody from Goodie MacCray to Angus Brodie assumed you'd left to get away from your bride."
- loc 709

It's beautiful to see a relationship being repaired by two willing parties. There's a lot of wariness, but also a lot of patience -- and while there's so many questions that hang in the air (about motivations and secrets, about Angus Brodie and Brenna, about the clan), what is without question is the love and the faith in that love that both Brenna and Michael have. As with other second-chance-at-love stories, there's always the poignancy presented by the "what if" -- what if Michael hadn't left? What if he had come home two years sooner?

"Brenna, if you had three wishes, would one of them be that you had never married me?" His tone was gentle, not accusing.
- loc 838

But there's also the moving forward: neither our hero or heroine dwell so much in the past, but, rather, have their hands immersed in the present and their eyes fixed to the future. It's not a perfect relationship, but it's a relationship that works.

"A marriage is a committed union of two souls, Brenna Brodie, not the desperate attempts of one soul to attach the affections of the other. So I'm wondering: How will you woo me?"
- loc 928

In her author's notes, Grace Burrowes talks about how much heart she has put into this book -- and you can really see it as you read through this novel. It is a palpable force that drives this story forward and breathes such life into these two characters. While we see historical romance as fantasy and escapist, I see a real-ness to Michael and Brenna's story and it is a wonderful and mesmerising ending to one truly amazing series.

The Laird is book 3 in Grace Burrowes's The Captive Hearts series and was released today, September 2, 2014.

[Lover of Romance · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael and Brenna have been married for over ten years, and were betrothed since childhood. Michael left ten years previous to fight in the war, and now he has returned and he barely knows Brenna. Brenna has had to fight for keeping their home, she has had to face enemies within the clan to keep them above water, and now her husband has finally remembered he has a wife and people who care about him. In the beginning of his return Brenna has inner demons that is keeping her from being fully Michael's wife. Michael is impressed with how well Brenna has managed things so far since he has been gone. Michael doesn't want to see the animosity between Brenna and his people. But as he starts to woo his wife and convince her of his love for her, he starts to see her strength and fortitude. Michael begins to see that its not as simple as wooing his wife, he will have to win her heart as well as her affections.

The Laird is the third in the Captive Hearts series. I think out of this series so far, that The Laird is my favorite. This series has been quite a ride so far, and I would say probably some of my favorite books from this author. I loved the theme of this series, and each book has done a great job in the implementation. We see how each pair in each of the books have to fight for love, and The Laird is no different. This story is all about sacrifice and trust. Both of the characters in the story even though married, have never made love, they barely know each other, and have been separated for ten years. The story begins as a courtship, a chance for these two to reconnect, but life seems to get in the way of these two. You begin to develop a kinship to the heroine, she has heart and gumption and is not afraid to fight for what is hers. You can tell that she has some skeletons in the closet, that she has been keeping from Michael. Skeletons that she fears and that haunt her daily. She and Michael's uncle are at odds with each other (but for good reason), and the more you delve deeper in the story the more that you begin to appreciate her courage and will. Michael is a charmer and romantic. I love the way he goes about weakening Brenna's defenses and showing her how genuine his feelings are for her.

The plot of the story is steady paced and didn't feel rushed or too slow. I felt like it was just right for the theme of the story and knowing how Burrowes writes, not unexpected. But there were quite a few surprises along the way that really will shock you to the core. But I loved the way she puts the story together and it really comes together in the end in such a way that is perfectly well suited to the story. I loved seeing it unravel in slow degrees, that was enjoyable and enthralling. A story to remember, a tale to fall for and a experience that will burn in you!!! EXCEPTIONAL!!!

[Wollstonecrafthomegirl · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think this is one of Burrowes’s strongest books, and she’s written some excellent ones. It’s not five stars because it’s not, it doesn’t make me soar like it needs to, to get that top title, but it’s < > this close.

This book follows on from the events of The Traitor but can definitely be read as a standalone. I think Burrowes is best when she’s writing from her distinctive historical and style perspective but isn’t utterly wedded to the massive web of the Burrowesverse. It’s great at times to have Windhams and Windhams-by-marriage popping up all over the shop, but often it distracts from the romance.

The Laird doesn’t have any of that. Instead we have Burrowes laser focused on her H/h, the story of their marriage of convenience and their romance. This book has a big, difficult, complicated topic at its centre (the heroine was abused as a child and her abuser is still very much a part of her life and family) and it’s managed thoughtfully and, in my limited experience of these matters, in a believable way. For some people it’s undoubtedly going to be a triggering topic and it’s probably lost this book some readers, but it’s not an issue for me to see these, sadly all too common, issues tackled in mainstream fiction. The big topic is weaved throughout the story and makes for a solid villain getting in the way of our H/h and results in a suitably dramatic climax. Burrowes is sometimes guilty of moustache twirling, mwah-ha-ha-ha-ing villains. They often come out of left field for last minute ~dramaz~. Again, this book doesn’t have that issue; it works marvellously as a whole.

The characterisation of Brenna, the heroine, is particularly good. She’s prickly, she’s secretive and she’s proper. She’s also a great combination of scared and brave. The effect of her background, both the trauma and being left by Michael at such a young age without any sense of when he might return, have really shaped her and it comes. At the same time, she develops during the book, she lets Michael in, and it’s very organic. Michael, our hero, is good, but I think there’s no doubt that he’s playing second fiddle to Brenna. He’s a beta hero and he exists to be a great husband and rock a kilt, and he manages both. That said, I wish he’d been a bit more developed, as he is the eponymous Laird and one might have thought his issues arising from the war and being away from home for so long etc would also be explored. Instead, they’re skirted over.

The romance is a lovely thing. They grow together. Michael helps Brenna work through her issues and comes to really appreciate the woman his wife has become in his absence. Brenna learns she can love and trust. It’s just very well done. I think Burrowes could have cut some words in the mid-section and lost nothing, it takes a bit too long to get to the resolution. I wish there had been one more sex scene, but what we got was great.

All the usual great aspects of Burrowes’s writing are here. Great language. Lovely turns of phrase. Strangely explicit, but somehow not explicit at all sex. The characters consume their mandated quantity of scones and lemonade. Everyone and everything has a scent.

All in all: wonderful book.

[eyes.2c · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another Grace Burrowes re-read! Couldn’t putitdown!

[Angie Elle · Rating 4 out of 5]

***This book was provided by Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.***

*possible spoilers for previous books in this series

The Laird was such a wonderful love story about a husband and wife who are trying to find their way together after years of separation.

In true Grace Burrowes fashion, this book was brimming with emotion and beauty. Though their marriage was settled years in advance, it wasn't a typical arranged marriage story for Michael and Brenna. What made this unique was that though they had no choice, Michael and Brenna accepted their situation and decided they were going to love each other. From the time they met, Michael knew Brenna would one day be his wife, and he took his role as her future husband very seriously.

I loved both of the main characters in this book. Their devotion to each other and their willingness to move past things and not hold grudges set the tone for their entire relationship. This book hits on some serious issues, and the author does a fantastic job of showing how it affects not only the person at the center of it, but also those surrounding them.

Brenna was a very serious character. It was almost hard to get to know her, because she had learned to close herself off, but that didn't stop her from being likable. She was a strong heroine who worked hard for everything she had and never complained. Michael was a serious character, too, though he was more light-hearted than Brenna. While his time at war had scarred him, it hadn't hardened him. He was a very patient, very kind man who genuinely loved his wife and wanted to make her happy.

As with the two previous books in this series, the story unfolds at a perfect pace, with the hero and heroine earning each other's trust and ultimately, love.

The Laird is a book that is definitely going to stay with you.

What makes this series so special for me is the way the characters lives are intertwined. Captive Hearts is an example of how good things can come out of even the worst of circumstances. Sebastian was a savior to Christian in a way that no one but the two of them will ever understand. Michael may have been in Sebastian's life by orders he'd been given, but he was a constant companion who understood the sacrifice Sebastian was making and the toll it took on his life. He saw the good in Sebastian that even Sebastian couldn't see in himself. In return, I think Sebastian was an example to Michael of how, even when things aren't going the way you expected or planned, sometimes you just have to tough it out.

I also liked how the titles of these books weren't merely reflections of the heroes, but the heroines as well. Christian and Gilly were both held captive at times in their lives, albeit in very different ways. While his peers viewed Sebastian as a traitor, Millie's family saw her the same. And while Michael may have been laird of his clan, Brenna filled his shoes when he wasn't there. The shared circumstances really deepened the connections between the heroes and their heroines.

I recommend this story, and the entire series, if you are looking for Historical Romance with a lot of depth and and intricately woven plotline.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was glad I read this book. It was well written with the difficult and haunting subjects handled delicately. Michael and Brenna were both strong individuals, and it was beautiful to see their bonds and love grow, helping them overcome all the hurt and leading them to a happy and hopeful future. Though I got the HEA always hoped for, the heart wrenching events throughout overshadowed at times. 4.5 Stars

I enjoyed this series very much and was especially happy to see St. Clair and his Baroness give support and friendship to Michael and Brenna.

[Andrea · Rating 1 out of 5]

I want to start out by saying that Michael was faithful to her during the separation and did not sleep with or kiss other women, because I know that's a question a lot of readers have when dealing with second chance romances.


It's pretty bad when the author has to write a note at the beginning assuring readers the characters arrive at a HEA after going through sadness and struggles. And that "conflict this painful and complicated" isn't everybody's idea of good material for a romance. Worry started to set in and I dreaded what was ahead. I wish I had read the reviews that mentioned sexual abuse before going into this.

I happen to like books that deal with betrayal and put you through emotion, as long as the characters handle each other in a respectful way and don't do anything unforgivable. From the summary I knew Michael would have to do some major explaining and groveling, so the story was already set against him and favored Brenna, who's the wronged party.

For 9 years she's held onto hurt and anger and tried for indifference, but Michael came back suddenly one day with no warning. She wanted to be indifferent but of course she couldn't achieve it. Women are weak and can't ever do what we want. At least that's what romance authors want you to think. But when it got to Michael's POV, I was cursing him for a bastard and staring at my book in disbelief. One of the first things he said to his abandoned wife is "You used to be chubby." A dumb thing to say to any woman, but doubly so because this is the wife you left for 9 years. As they're walking into the castle, he was thinking all about how he could bed his wife and being relieved that she isn't the hysterical child she used to be. I could see the author was trying to upset us even more and it pissed me off. What a callous bastard to think he deserved to sleep with her after what he'd done. She asked what would have comforted her when she worried he was a traitor or dead, and he started to worry that she'd cheated on him.

He asked her to tend to his bath shortly after he arrived, then teased her about being shy around naked men. Brenna stupidly asked if he was used to having women help bathe him. He realized Brenna was modest and thought it was a pity because virgins are known to be a lot of work. I was pissed. I was thinking that this should be called The Bastard.

He wanted to make an heir that night, and she pointed out that she doesn't know his likes and dislikes, and he said men and women don't need to know particulars to enjoy each other, and she said if he was about to compare her to a camp follower he'd better think again, and she said it's sad that the only comfort he's had were whores. Oh no you just fucking didn't. Women didn't f'ing talk about f'ing whores, wtf are you thinking? And to openly encourage him to talk about women he's had sex with is the dumbest freaking thing I've ever heard of. I HATE when authors do that.

I wanted to slam the book down, but in Michael's POV we shortly learned he had stayed faithful to her. Wonder of all wonders.

The first night he stayed in bed with her, and she was tempted to touch him and told him she felt safer with him there! Where is her righteous anger? You do not erase 9 years of abandonment by rushing wifely and husbandly duties.

They were going way too fast. The next morning Brenna noticed he missed a spot shaving and took the towel off his shoulder and wiped it off. Michael said he wanted to kiss her and she told him to go ahead. He told her she could hug him and she went and did that too. It was pissing me off that she was doing so much for him and coming around to him immediately.

She was 16 when he left and he was 21. Everyone thought he went to war to get away from her. They were betrothed when she was 8 and he was 13. She lived at his home for 8 years before they were married.

His sister came into the story, and got her own POV. I was so mad. Nothing says you have no idea what to do with a story than introducing a kid.

"The vast majority of my experience was gained before I married you."
I was like what does that mean? If the “majority” of his experience was before he married her, then that implies that some of it was after he married her, so it made it sound like he went on to kiss other women, but that’s not the case because he said he didn’t. And if he met her at 13 then how did he get any experience with women?? How could he sleep with women when he knew he was going to marry Brenna??

One of them would bring up a topic and the other wouldn't answer, and so wouldn't talk about it, then they'd bring up another topic, and then not talk about it! It was ticking me off.

On the second day he said he loved her. It made me so mad. He's been gone for 9 years, he doesn't know her. Quit rushing things.

It was about the 3rd or 4th night and Brenna took her clothes off--though Michael was being the privacy screen--and got into bed naked. Naked! Yeah, she's really "furious" about his absence. She wrapped her arm around his waist, kissed him twice, and let him put his leg over his thighs.

It was intensely uncomfortable to read Angus with Maeve, Michael's little sister. It was one thing to read between the lines and know what he must have done or at least tried to, but not with a little girl. That was soo uncomfortable to read. He was teasing her and made a really lewd allusion to sex, saying her male cat "brings the lady cats something else entirely." He was asking her about herself and even had candy, ingratiating himself to appear trustworthy and lull her into a false sense of security. He said she sweetened his day and offered her a flower. Later when Maeve said Angus had been nice to her, Brenna warned her to stay away from him and not be alone with him, to climb to a height because he was afraid of them. What a scary, unsettling topic.

When Brenna asked Michael how a person goes about kissing, that was where I stopped reading for the day. I wanted to run my head through the wall.

Michael told her he was out of practice of kissing and Brenna couldn't get over it. She questioned him and when he said a war doesn't have much opportunity for kissing, and "You truly didn't have much occasion for kisses while you were gone?" A faithful man should be such a freaking surprise. Writing this kind of reaction to a man's faithfulness is really helping the cause.

When Brenna dropped the bombshell on pg. 169 that she'd betrayed her people out of hundreds of pounds, I was irritated. We had enough to deal with with the sexual assault.

Another time when Brenna lashed out against Michael's touches, he finally asked her if there was someone who touched her against her will. Now was the opportunity to open her mouth and get it over with. But no, she couldn't because she feared Angus's revenge.

It was sweet that he used to follow Brenna outside to see where she was going, and Angus would catch him and accuse him of spying. And he'd gotten her a hair ribbon for her 13th birthday. And made a leather purse for her for her 15th birthday.

I hate when the virginal heroine is a quick study. She recently asked how to kiss, admitted she didn't even know how to ask or what to ask for, but then sucked his lips, straddled his waist and sat on his penis, bit his earlobe and put his hands on her breasts.
They decided not to have sex because they wanted to see each other in the light, so the next morning she grasps his penis. An untutored virgin giving a hand job! I f'ing hate that!
And then to drag another thing out, right as they're getting started, they were interrupted as guests arrived. I hate a plot where the only real driving force is delaying. And he was so eager to meet his officer, Brenna resented them for interrupting their moment, and how easily Michael left. I was like great, just one more thing for her to be mad about. The author wasn't done screwing with things.

And then Brenna's confession about her transgression with the money was to Milly, St. Clair's wife! Now there's a logical action. When I learned what happened I was like really? That's it? She'd taken her cousins and ridden to town to sale wool, and on the way back her cousins stopped for a drink and she carried on alone, and all of the money and her purse was stolen, that was a gift from Michael for when she was 15 that he had made. What a sin to be beset by thieves. No wonder everyone hates her!

I figured St. Clair and Milly were past characters from the series, but I had no idea who they were and didn’t care for them. Past characters have no place in new character’s books, esp when they get their own POV and start stealing the show. Milly starting to lose the baby she’s carrying, overprotective St. Clair, dissecting everyone’s relationship and noticing how in love Michael and Brenna are. Yeah. Right. A military officer just wanting to talk about love. What a joke.

It was soo unnerving to read about an old white-haired man preying on a child. He caught Maeve from the horse when he spooked, and had her legs wrapped around her waist, sat down with her like that until she ended up straddling him, was breathing hard and adjusted his kilt after. What filth.

Michael and Brenna started to have sex when they got back, but Brenna and her personality ruined it. He asked her to undress him and she responded that a man can undress himself. He tossed his waistcoat on the floor and she said "For shame" and he felt chastised and had to go hang it up. He would have thrown his cravat but she raised her brow. Training him like a little kid to not throw his clothes on the floor. Michael thought that Brenna was being Brenna. A good way to ruin what should have been a good moment. Who would get onto a man when he’s so eager to have sex with you and think about clothes at a time like this? I felt like saying leave, Michael, and have her stay by herself and fold clothes or something if she’s that obsessed with neatness.

He told her he's dreamed of her like this, that she gifts him with more than he deserves, and she replied "Such blather. Pure husband-talk. Married-man nattering. I like it, but mind you limit such nonsense to the bedroom."
I was so fed up with her. And the way she spoke drove me up a freaking wall. SHUT UP.

She grasped him and put him right at her entrance. My, she knows a lot! The irony of the knowledgeable, sexual virgin!

The sex scene was over so quickly. It wasn't even 2 full pages, barely had any details, just a little touching. It was so casual, so blasé, and so disappointing. If they were going to have sex, at least make it good sex.

When she finally told him what happened with the people’s money, in bed of all places, after their first time--great time to unload and ruin any afterglow--I thought she was so stupid. Why hold back telling a story where you were a victim?? Idiot Brenna. And of course Michael was supportive and on her side, because it wasn’t her fault!

Maeve went missing, but Angus was out of town, and she was eventually found in the garden. Of course Michael was to blame for this. Case 100 of Brenna getting mad at Michael. Genius Brenna came to the conclusion that Maeve would have to leave in order to be safe from Angus, and that her and Michael couldn't have sex so they wouldn't have children so they wouldn't be prey to Angus. She's all logic. But she didn't spare a thought to all of the kids in the shire. What are you going to do about them, get rid of all the children? Like "Where did all the children go?"

She insisted that she was still a maiden, yet there was no mention of pain, blood, discomfort, tightness, or anything. It was bizarre. I kept waiting for the ceremonial consummation, but it was as casual as if she had had sex before and he slid in as easily as butter over toast.

Michael searched Angus's house for any evidence of the money Brenna lost. He found a sketchbook full of nude drawings of Brenna. Pornography in an historical romance. I never thought I'd see the day.

Michael's behavior that night was deplorable, treating her like she was the victimizer instead of the victim. He blamed himself, didn't blame her at all, but his behavior could have reflected that and it did not. He was quiet, spoke sharply to her when she spilled coals, and barely spoke to her when she spoke to him, even kept his kilt on in bed until she said something.

There was a brothel where a lady sold out children for prostitution, where Angus had been spending the money he stole. Neil went to Angus and threatened him away from the brothel and the kids there, so we knew Neil was one of his victims and I was so upset.

Maeve was stuck up on the parapet at the flag pole and Angus volunteered to help her and they agreed! There this pervert was using the trust he had garnered from the kid for his nefarious purposes to help her off the ledge! To have him the only one Maeve would come down for, the only one she trusted. A deplorable choice, and Brenna thanked him for it! I was losing my mind that a pedophile, molester and child rapist saved the day.
Michael and Brenna were only consumed with each other and didn't take any time for Maeve. Brenna only did so when it became clear Angus was a threat to her.
And Brenna knew Angus was a pedophile, a molester of children—of her! Twice she knew Angus had been alone with Maeve and she still did nothing. If you know there’s a pedophile and there’s a little girl who has said that she’s been around him, why, oh why, are you leaving the girl alone??

As I knew he would, because books are always so predictable, Angus took the easy way out and jumped from the roof. He didn’t have to go to trial or suffer consequences, he was gone just like that.

On pg. 357 of 394, Michael revealed that he'd known the truth about his uncle before he even left for the war. Thanks for that bombshell. We didn't have enough shit to deal with without it.

It wasn't until pg. 362 that Brenna finally said that Angus hadn't taken her virginity. Somehow Brenna's and Michael's first time happened with no allusion whatsoever to losing her virginity, and Michael missed it too. Not sure how you can miss such a thing, but there it is.

I had been looking forward to the celebration since it was first mentioned, and it was ruined. Michael chose the party to reveal Angus's crimes, and then Angus committed suicide. The one good thing this plot had to offer and it didn't even happen. Oh and if you weren't pissed off enough, Michael told Brenna that Angus had intercepted their letters to each other! 364 pages and I didn't even know that he had sent letters to her! I didn't know that he never received a letter from her! WHAT?

Michael had seen Angus with Neil and assumed that Neil wanted it or they were drunk. He couldn't make love to Brenna on their wedding night because of it. Okay...that's a really weird thing to happen. He claimed he didn't want to leave her with child, so that was apparently a lie...spying the uncle molesting the wife's young male cousin to prevent consummation, that's a new one. Poor Neil. He'd also said there were other reasons that he hadn't come home after the war, but he never talked about it. They didn't fully talk about any subject, not one. The author raised so many questions that she must have forgotten every little argument and issue they had together.

So St. Clair and her cousins cleaned out Angus’s house and put everything in a wagon, and they set it out to see on a boat and set it all on fire. They were planning what to name a baby, and they ended up having 5 daughters. Why no sons? I was just so over it that I didn’t even care. Michael and Brenna were hell to read about, I was sure that Michael would be miserable with her, and the marriage was crappy and boring as hell.

The author makes such a big deal out of people being married. She took marriage and beat it with a stick. Then she resurrected it and beat it to within an inch of its life. She repeated this process throughout the entire book. I've never had an author make such a big freaking deal out of marriage before. The characters constantly saying they're married, telling each other they're married, stating what wives and husbands and married people are supposed to do.. Wife. Man and Wife. We're married. A husband should be able to do this. A wife does that. Married people do this. They kept calling each other "Wife" and "Husband” All. The. Time. And their names. Michael Brodie. Brenna Maureen. Brenna Maureen MacLogan Brodie. Damn, this was boring. I was so sick of hearing their names. Who talks like that?!

Brenna sucked as a wife, constantly in a bad mood, in a mood about something, mad at everything he does, constantly stressed about her tasks, busy with chores. No sense of humor whatsoever, terrible personality.

At some point in the story I was heartily sick of the two of them and their way of speaking and wouldn't have cared if they did get divorced. To spend almost 400 pages having two adults refusing to speak about SO many subjects was BEYOND irritating. I just wanted them to hash out and resolve one issue. Stop bringing things up if you're only going to keep putting it off. She likes stringing readers along and I don’t like being screwed with.

It was a wordy style, characters constantly pontificating on the behaviors of everyone else around them, thinking all the time about everything, in this really wordy, flowery, philosophical style that was so extremely boring.
Ex: "I want to kiss you so a feeling more blessed than the sun beaming in that window fills your heart and lightens your every step."
"Her lips grazed his, soft as sunshine."
Ugh.

He said he didn't bed a woman until he came home to her. Yet he knew all about sex and hand jobs. If he was a virgin it was never said. What the hell is up with that? He met her at 13, apparently was fascinated and really liked her, giving gifts for her birthdays. So if he liked her, was betrothed since he was 13, how, oh how, did he get any experience? There was no reference to him with other women, for which I was thankful, but the elephant in the room was the author skipping over his sexual past and how he got any experience when he was so supposedly in love with Brenna.

Brenna was unlikable. She didn't want Maeve there and was stressed out about her coming and wanted Michael to send her away. She was cold and unwelcoming to St. Clair and his wife.

Of course she was the one in charge in the bedroom. It’s always Brenna’s way. What Brenna wants you to say. What Brenna wants you to do. Boring Brenna, orderly, a head for numbers, and a household to run. All about her responsibilities and getting on to her husband. She had to be on top both times. No growth there. I was hoping she would evolve enough to let him be on top, but nope.

It acquired a sense of redundancy. Everything felt like it had happened before because it had. Everything started and ending in their bedroom and there wasn’t enough change in scenery. I was getting so thoroughly sick of their talks in that bedroom.

She described everything the same way. It was all about scents and vetiver was used million times. I was so sick of that word.

I tired of their conversations. Their stupid talks every night about their stupid days, him rubbing his feet together to dust them off. Idk what fetish the author has with men dusting their feet off before getting into bed, but it made him sound like an old man. In fact, their whole marriage has the boring settling and resignation of two elderly people too far into the marriage to get out, just putting up with each other because it’s too late for them for anyone else.

[Emily · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michael Brodie left his new bride to fight a war that took years to finish, even after it did he still stayed away but now he is back home and is surprised his wife Brenna is not happy to see him. Brenna put up with nine years of gossiping about why her new husband would walk away the day after they married, the rumors swirled whether he was alive or dead for years and now he is back Brenna is ready to walk away from the marriage but Michael wants there marriage and plans to woo his wife. Can Brenna trust Michael and can they have everything that he is promising?

There is a whole part of the story about Brenna that gets uncovered while the story progresses which was surprising. I thought this was excellent, going to have to go back and read rest of series. Brenna you get where she is at with Michael and I felt sorry for him but felt like he owed it to Brenna to regain her trust. Liked the pacing of this story, very entertaining.

[Betty · Rating 5 out of 5]

The final book in Grace Burrowes' Captive Hearts trilogy and I wasn't sure that I was going to enjoy it as much as I had the first two in the series, although I couldn't put it down, so compelling was it, I'm still not sure that 'enjoy' is the correct adjective. It started off rather slowly and I felt frustrated at my lack of understanding as to why Michael had stayed away from his young bride for nine years. Okay the first seven years could be explained easily enough but another two when he should/could have gone home? I understand that he felt the duty and need to protect Sebastian St.Clair or Robert Gerard as he had been known in France - but two more long years for a young bride whose self esteem must have already been at rock bottom. My sympathy was definitely with Brenna, regardless of Michael's indisputable honour. No wonder his wife was unhappy and unimpressed when he finally decided to return to his home and her. I would have been hopping mad too given the same set of circumstances, and although Brenna is stately and considerate in her attitude to Michael, she nevertheless does not forgive him easily.

Michael's reasons for bolting without a verbal farewell are explained much further into the story when the two actually begin to talk to each other, still I felt irritated with him for burying his head in the sand for so long and leaving a young woman, little more than a child, to cope alone. Yes his parents' had been around for a while initially...but still.. Ms.Burrowes reveals layer by painful layer why Michael left as he did, stayed away for so long and even why Brenna received no communication from him. Brenna's reluctance to even kiss him, seems at first to be punishment for his abandonment of her, although I did wonder why feeling as she did, Brenna would actually sleep naked with the husband she was so upset with, especially given her reluctance to finally consummate their union. Again though this was all part of Ms. Burrowes clever plan, and the reasons behind Brenna's reticence are explained.

Michael did not and could not have known the real reasons behind his sixteen year old bride's desperate plea for him to take her with him to war nine years previously nor could Brenna have known of the reasoning behind Michael's decision to leave her behind regardless of the danger, he had explained, she would face as a camp follower.

Brenna has had a tumultuous time in Michael's absence, apart from the fact that many of his tenants have emigrated, the majority left treat her with contempt and it is this realisation and disgust at the way his wife is treated by his people that is the catalyst for Michael to start investigating, unravelling and revealing the horrific time Brenna has spent, alone, unprotected and despised by all but a few people. At this point in the story Michael started to redeem himself as far as I am concerned. As the story unfolds it is obvious that Michael and Brenna care deeply for each other, both have remained faithful to their wedding vows during their estrangement and it is this affection that enables the two to start rebuilding their relationship.

Before they can finally heal, they must learn to trust and to talk to each other and as it slowly happens we learn how very cleverly Ms. Burrowes has woven her incredibly sensitive story. Brenna has lived in Michael's home since she was a child of eight, betrothed to him for eight years before their marriage and it was during this eight year period where her dreadful trauma occurred, whilst Michael was still actually around, although little more than a child himself. She has to develop into young womanhood before she has the courage to protect herself.

Everything that happened to Brenna in the period from when she was eight to twenty five is as a direct result of one person, first preying on her and then turning the tenants against her when she finally finds the courage to stand up to him. Through it all she has remained a loyal young woman, fiercely proud and dignified, she has worked tirelessly to keep Michael's estate solvent, and his people, as far as she is able... safe.

This is a heart wrenching story of child abuse, skilfully told in a way we in this day and age have come to understand. The perpetrator using first kindness, and treats to wheedle his way into a lonely child's confidence and then using that power to threaten and frighten her into submission and fear to speak out.

The story ends in a horrifying but justified climax and Michael and Brenna do finally reach their HEA but this is quite a departure for Ms.Burrowes and I felt no warm glow. This is a subject close to my heart for I know a family who were affected by similar abuse, discovered only many years after the event and the fallout and ongoing trauma is horrendous. Ms. Burrowes has handled an extremely difficult subject with sensitivity and skill and I applaud this great writer.

[Jojo92 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Une cata, alors que ça se passe en Écosse je m'étais dit que j'allais adorer. Mais non, aucune passion entre les héros, un oncle abuseur sexuel! Vraiment où est la romance !!! Fuyez!!!

[*The Angry Reader* · Rating 4 out of 5]

So. Dang. Good.

Michael has been in the previous books - quiet and guarded. Here we see him return home and blossom.

Brenna, michael’s wife, has a secret that makes their marriage difficult. But Michael is patient and perceptive - and a dramatic resolution comes about - during a surprise visit from St Clair.

As with the previous stories Burrowes’ pacing is flawless. She lets the story unravel at the perfect intoxicating pace - helping a reader fall in love with her characters as they fall in love with one another.

[Sheena ☆ Book Sheenanigans · Rating 2 out of 5]

[Zoe · Rating 2 out of 5]

my second book from Grace Burrowes, and my last. the writing is good, but I don't like the way she tells her story. it seems she favors gentle men and a heroine who has suffered some kind of male violence in her stories. I keep asking myself: is this page 20 or 200? she builds no foundation for the characters to know each other well enough to be having the conversations she lets them have in the story. characters are not coming to life. it's not an awful story, and I might even finish this one. (can't finish the last) but I will not.be reading her books again. the narrative style suffocates me.

[Melann · Rating 3 out of 5]

Plutôt 2,5/5.

Oui Ok, on m'avait prévenu ! (:D) Mais comme j'avais un avis positif et un très négatif, j'hésitais toujours.
Bref, c'est vrai que c'est un livre assez plombant. Les relations entre les protagonistes sont assez froids une grande partie du livre. J'ai eu du mal à comprendre les non-dits qui durent tout au long de l'histoire (surtout de la part de Brenna) et qui auraient pu avoir des conséquences fâcheuses (sur la petite soeur).
C'est dommage, Brodie avait du potentiel, je l'ai bien aimé (Brenna aussi, malgré tout).

[Lady Wesley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I chose this book, and the entire Captive Hearts trilogy, as one of the Best of 2014 at Romantic Historical Reviews.

* * * * *

I haven't had time to write a proper review of this amazing book, so I'll just direct you to my friend Kyraryker's review.

[Issa · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sometimes there are books you think you should like but just can't get into. This is one for me. It was okay, but never warmed up to the characters, Michael in particular, and felt it dragged the whole thing too long. Not bad, just didn't grab me. Might need to be a re-read in the future.

[Jody Lee · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts out with an author's note about Brenna having had a tough childhood with "intimate betrayals." I think if the note were being written today it would include a straight-up CW: Childhood SA (in past, off page, recounted briefly); child grooming (in present, not to point of abuse). It's apparent what Burrowes meant, but I think we are more careful now than we were a decade ago about making sure readers are empowered to take care of their mental health.

That said, this book was brilliantly constructed and beautifully written. Michael has been in the previous two books as aide/valet/secret bodyguard to Sebastian St. Clair. He and Brenna had been betrothed since they were 8 and 15, and married when she turned 16 (YIKES) but didn't consummate the marriage for Reasons To Be Explained Later and then he went to war for nine years. Brenna has had to take charge of the running of the castle and safeguarding the villagers in Micheal's absence. She brings light and color to the building and planting flowers everywhere, keeping its essence but improving it. "I had the men enlarge the windows, whitewash the walls, polish the floors." Why is new bride in charge of the whole castle you ask? Because Michael's mom took her own daughters to Ireland with her For Reasons To Be Explained Later.

If Burrowes has a super-power, it's the weaving of breadcrumbs until the reader and the character connect the dots and get the story. It's been super well done in this series in all three stories.
Michael knows something is up with Brenna, the reader sure knows too. Burrowes drops tiny hint after tiny hint, and the dread builds and builds. She talks about "a wife expected to endure her husband's kisses" and when she is touched at all there is a "particular combination of panic and nausea familiar to her from long acquaintance" and "the seething dread suffusing her every line and organ." Michael, bless him, is both slow to take MULTIPLE hints like "Ask Brenna why I might want to keep an eye on Angus Brodie" and to really question why no children are allowed alone out of the house. (Not a spoiler, the reader knows exactly what is up the first time the uncle appears on page). Meanwhile the uncle has spent the past nine years trying to make sure no one likes, trusts or believes anything Brenna says or does, and is quick to drip poison into Michael's ear about her.

There's a brilliant parallel track here, where Michael patiently and openly knows something is wrong with Brenna, and offers her space to tell her secrets and also to take the lead with their intimacy in a way that feels safe. Knowing what the reader knows of her state of mind, it's a triumph when she can sling her leg over his in bed, or have a chaste kiss, let alone the happy more that follows. These two are falling in love and building the foundations of their life together. The other side of the track, though, is the mounting horror as Angus grooms Michael's little sister who has come from Ireland, having her keep harmless secrets and then larger ones, giving favors and laying groundwork. The whole thing comes to a head before anything happens to the sister, and the historical abuse is both horrible and not as bad as I was fearing and all the plot points so well woven together and connected.

In the end I really valued the reading experience of this book but it made me too anxious and pained for the characters. I ended up reading quite late to finish because I wanted the book to be behind me, but also admired the story-telling and plotting a great deal. I can't give it five stars because it made my tummy hurt, but I do recommend it if you are reading the series, it's that good. UGH.

[BJ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Triggers, and lots of them. The H is stubborn, kind and an absent husband. The h is fragile and not respected by the clan, and her husband doesn't understand any of it. It's an awful story, well written and while this couple have a HEA, the trauma they suffered was terrible. Not my favourite book.

[Ashlyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rating: 4.5 stars

Wow! I seriously cannot believe how amazing Grace Burrowes is as a writer. I loved this book so much. Yes, this book had such hard topics to read about. BUT this book was amazing. I loved that it was an arranged marriage and second change marriage all in one book! I loved the characters and their stories. I loved how this was written. I pretty much loved everything about this book except that it made me sad at times. I 1000% recommend this entire series because it's just so incredible. I'm excited to read more by this author!



Triggers:
- Suicide
- Child Abuse/sexual assault

[Lisa Creane · Rating 5 out of 5]

As I slog my way through the Lonely Lords series where absolutely nothing of importance happens, I see that those books are character studies for the Windham series, the Highland series and now this Captive series of Grace Burrowes, where she delivers drama not in the form of action, but resolution.

Almost all of her books rely on a character experiencing a trauma before the story starts, burying it, and then slowly working it through so that they can be the person they want to for the one they've chosen to love.

In the Lonely Lords books, the revelation of the secrets are the drama, and it can get long and drawn-out waiting for the conversation about "what happened." Of course you need to build trust to have that conversation, and that is the natural course of a romance, but after that conversation, all is well and good in their worlds.

Which can get annoying, because in real life that conversation is just the beginning, or maybe besides the point. But with each approach to the subject, Burrowes got closer and closer to this truth, until she nailed it in this series.

Wow.

There is a tenderness to all the heroes she writes, and this book is no exception. Michael is extraordinarily protective of his commanding officer, St. Clair of The Traitor, which begs a lot of questions that are answered over the course of the series but mostly saved for this book. The intimate gestures the men make toward each other and their women can get precious (in other books) but in this series seems perfect, what friendships forged through battle would be.

That Michael's has left his wife with her own epic battles for ten years isn't brushed over or used as a simple hurdle for them to overcome, but leads to very real shame and forgiveness they have to work through.

Boy was I happy when Michael got angry. That was a gift to us all, even though he wasn't allowed to be an avenging Highland warrior.

Those men are in other books. In this one, we get real love.

[Nightwitch · Rating 2 out of 5]

When I read the author's note, I got a sinking feeling. When I got a few chapters in and we were introduced to the skulking uncle, with plenty of hints about a Terrible Secret, the sinking feeling... got worse. I skipped ahead to the last few chapters, and yep. This is the second Grace Burrowes novel I've read (or tried to read) which used sexual or sexualized violation of the heroine as a mystery-style plot point, where the reader is wondering What Happened and what the gory details looked like, and All Is Revealed towards the end, leaving basically no time for the characters to wrestle with the more profound question of how sexual violence and the revelation of same might impact a romantic (and sexual) relationship going forward, particularly when the violence is perpetrated or seems to have been perpetrated on the heroine by a much-beloved relative of the hero's. You can't just gloss over that. You just can't. The heroine is basically called upon to exhibit preternatural forgiveness not only of the hero but of the person who violated her, and they both have to agree that they're just not going to let it impact their own relationship. And... The End! That's not how people work, and it's unpleasant to read. I'm going to need to take a break from Burrowes.

[Cardyn Brooks]

With much appreciation for the Author's Note that warns readers of the disturbing nature of the dominant theme in The Laird, that's not this story's weakness. Its weakness lies in the fact that all of the featured characters act with mystifying ignorance and short-sightedness: Michael suddenly loses his talent for observation after nearly ten years of soldiering. It's as if he's a completely different character from the one established in the first two Captive Hearts titles. Brenna does absolutely nothing to protect a vulnerable child whose youth and circumstances practically place a bull's-eye on her forehead to mark her as easy prey for the known predator in their midst. Instead of banding together to expel the predator, an entire community treats the predator's words as gospel and shuns the innocent while the wronged parties are simply abandoned.

There is a feeling of essential accuracy in the portrayal of the insidiousness of a predator with a familiar face and some redeeming traits.

The tender courtship and profound emotional intimacy between Michael and Brenna make The Laird worth reading, but it's the weakest of the three Captive Hearts titles.

[Billie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why give this volume five stars when the preceding two volumes of the series only received four? That's simple: This third volume perfectly encapsulates all the themes of the series in its pages, as well as dealing sensitively with a very delicate issue. (I won't say more than that to avoid both spoilers and possible triggers.) Brenna and Michael are a lovely couple and their journey back to each other's hearts unfolded slowly and beautifully. For all of its heavy--some would say dark--subject matter, this book never tipped into angsty territory, which I appreciated. (I love a good angsty romance, but I think slipping into that tone here would have been too much.) All in all, this was a nearly perfect end to yet another nearly perfect series from Grace Burrowes. But, then, I've come to expect no less from her.

[Keri · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful ending to the trilogy, but loved the 2nd book more. It was tough subject matter, but I thought she handled it well.