A Caged Heart Still Beats

by Katherine Cerulean

Shepley Grant has money, property, and youth. There are only two things he does not have — his freedom, and her heart. Shepley spends his days trapped in a cage, hidden deep in the woods of his remote, regency era England, estate. Tragedy led his servant Bryce to imprison him there four years ago, take on his identity, and give him in return an unusual and complicated sort of friendship. Shepley’s actions may have brought him to this place, but his thoughts turn to revenge. Everything may change when their childhood friend Lena begs to visit again after losing her home. She is a free spirit with a loving heart and the one person Shepley is still allowed to write to in his lonely life. He has fallen in love with her through her letters. Shepley jumps at the chance to bring her closer and, in a code within their correspondence that only she will understand, he encourages her to come at once. But is bringing Lena near and giving her sanctuary all he desires, or is her visit a last, desperate bid to be found — and released? It is a freedom he both desires and fears for, if Shepley were to take his revenge upon Bryce, he knows he would lose Lena's heart (and damn his soul) forever. Upon her arrival Lena is led to believe that Bryce is the man she has written to, and begins to fall in love with him, but it is a love based on Shepley's words. As Lena and Bryce grow close, Shepley feels his heart split in two. Will the man he once called a friend really rob him of the last, and best, of his dreams? Shepley wonders if he is truly the monster Bryce sees — a dangerous man, destined to die alone. Will Lena's discovery of the cage in the woods lead to Shepley's salvation . . . or unleash tragedy for them all?

159 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2013

Reviews

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I've told everyone about this book. The jist of it is this: Shepley Grant is locked in a cage, in a cave, in a meadow, on the grounds of HIS estate, but his captor has taken his identity and is running the manor. His captor is his best friend, partially because they were friends as children and partially a Stockholm thing. Shepley is only eighteen years old and has been in this cage for years, and the only thing keeping him alive is writing to a young woman he knew as a child.

Lena has a massive facial scar and has been told since she got it that she will never find love, or work, and is in fact doomed. Her only solace is writing to her old friend, Shepley--though she has no idea he's locked in a cage.

Lena eventually finds herself visiting her old friend's manor. The man who greets her introduces himself as Shepley and it's been so long since she saw Shepley, she believes him.

So when she goes to explore the grounds, and comes across a man in a cage claiming to be Shepley...what can she possibly believe? What can she possibly do? Marry the man running the manor, or let the man in the cage free?

I LOVE THIS BOOK. Admittedly, I was hoping for a slightly different ending but I did enjoy it. And I love all the characters. Lena, Shepley, and Shepley's captor Bryce are all well-rounded and interesting. Deeply recommend, you have to check this one out.