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Captive Heart
BOUND BY PLEASURE
Celiese, the lovely slave girl, gasped when her betrothed emerged from the shadows. She had been secretly sent in her mistress's place to wed the much-feared Mylan. But instead of the cruel savage she had expected, he was a magnificently handsome warrior. His cool topaz gaze unnerved her. The fire in his touch sent shivers of unfamiliar desire down her spine. And the sweet madness of his burning kiss as he trapped her within an iron embrace made her forget her past, abandon all reason, and surrender herself--if only for one night--to the pleasures of passion's fire.
BRANDED BY PASSION
Mylan stared in astonishment at the woman before him. Instead of the spoiled, pampered innocent he had expected, she was a radiant silver-blonde beauty. The hot flush of her cheeks disarmed him; the flame in the emerald depths of her eyes aroused him. Gathering her into his arms, he silenced her startled protest with a slow, wanton kiss and awakened her supple flesh with tender, searching caresses. He would teach her the secrets of passion, take her to ecstasy's searing heights, and forever possess her Captive Heart
Celiese, the lovely slave girl, gasped when her betrothed emerged from the shadows. She had been secretly sent in her mistress's place to wed the much-feared Mylan. But instead of the cruel savage she had expected, he was a magnificently handsome warrior. His cool topaz gaze unnerved her. The fire in his touch sent shivers of unfamiliar desire down her spine. And the sweet madness of his burning kiss as he trapped her within an iron embrace made her forget her past, abandon all reason, and surrender herself--if only for one night--to the pleasures of passion's fire.
BRANDED BY PASSION
Mylan stared in astonishment at the woman before him. Instead of the spoiled, pampered innocent he had expected, she was a radiant silver-blonde beauty. The hot flush of her cheeks disarmed him; the flame in the emerald depths of her eyes aroused him. Gathering her into his arms, he silenced her startled protest with a slow, wanton kiss and awakened her supple flesh with tender, searching caresses. He would teach her the secrets of passion, take her to ecstasy's searing heights, and forever possess her Captive Heart
526 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 1985
1 person is currently reading
161 people want to read
About the author
Phoebe Conn
55 books56 followersPhoebe Conn is the maiden name and pseudonym of Phoebe Jane Conn a best-selling American author of thirty-seven romance novels. She has also published three futuristic romances under the pseudonym Cinnamon Burke.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 16, 2017
Gentle reader, I am disappointed. :( This could have been so much better. The backstory for both leads was ripe for plundering (no pun intended) & the main conflict had a great set-up...but alas. It slid rapidly downhill into a puddle of epic fail.
Why, you ask?
Clunky dialogue with schizo mood swings; H/h repeatedly bickering & jumping to conclusions for no reason other than deliberate miscommunication; wooden side characters with no distinctiveness; repeated Small Misunderstandings that evolve into Big Misunderstandings; no sense of time or place; poorly described locales & settings; rapid switches of location with little or no transition between scenes; juvenile language & lifeless, plodding tone...
Make no mistake -- the ONLY thing that saved this book from a 1-star rating was that I didn't hate this heroine as much as Johanna Lindsey's arms-akimbo, milk-spilling twatwaffle Brenna.
Why, you ask?
Clunky dialogue with schizo mood swings; H/h repeatedly bickering & jumping to conclusions for no reason other than deliberate miscommunication; wooden side characters with no distinctiveness; repeated Small Misunderstandings that evolve into Big Misunderstandings; no sense of time or place; poorly described locales & settings; rapid switches of location with little or no transition between scenes; juvenile language & lifeless, plodding tone...
Make no mistake -- the ONLY thing that saved this book from a 1-star rating was that I didn't hate this heroine as much as Johanna Lindsey's arms-akimbo, milk-spilling twatwaffle Brenna.
December 13, 2021
Интересна тенденция е някои романтични авторки, писали през 80-те, да се самоцензурират, пускайки “подобрена” електронна версия в киндъл. В случая в “подобрената” версия целият ужас и насилие, които героинята е понесла като 12 годишно момиче при викингски рейд, са напълно заличени. Резултатът е - изключителна скука и поредната щампована “девойка в беда”, като реално беда няма, защото нищо наистина лошо не може да и се случи, нали…
В оригиналната версия, сканирана в библиотеките, сюжетът все още си е оригиналният. Там викингите са точно тази смесица между храбри авантюристи, смели търговци и отвратителни убийци и роботърговци, което е що годе близко до историята. В сюжета все още я има онази непредвидимост, която днешните щампи напълно са заличили, да не вземат да се стреснат крехките читателки. Пътят до хепи енда е постлан с много приключения из средновековни Дания и Франция, обрати и предрасъдъци. До последно не е ясно как изобщо ще се стигне до щастлива развръзка.
Макар влюбените гълъбчета да са някак твърде тинейджърски построени, или young adult по днешните стандарти, все пак имат какво да предложат.
Героинята е минала през няколко кръга на Ада - в нецензурираната версия - и е успяла да се укрие като незабележима робиня в клан на викингски рейдъри, готови за бесилката по всякакви стандарти. Една сватба и размяна с булката и отварят пътя за промяна. Жаждата и за достойно съществуване като свободно човешко същество никога не е затихвала, и тя ще се бори докрай за това, оставайки понякога сляпа за подводните течения наоколо.
Героят е минал своя дял от житейски неприятности, довели до осакатяване. Макар дебелата му глава да е поувряла, никак не е променила презрителното му отношение към робите като към не-хора, низши и недостойни за доверие предмети на собствеността. През половината сюжет точно тези здраво вкоренени предрасъдъци го правят неприятен тип, който отказва да погледне извън здраво затвърдените си предрасъдъци. Но именно срещата с момичето започва да го променя, без той да се усети.
В неорязаната версия има житейско израстване и промяна към по-добро, силата да се справиш със злото в миналото и с несигурността на бъдещето, когато има вече за кого да се грижиш. В неорязаната - нищо подобно, поредната боза, която се харчи сред внимателно желаещи да бъдат изцяло държани на тъмно ескейпистки.
Естествено, в неорязания сюжет има куп бели конци (счупените ребра не са пречка за бесни подвизи и чудеса от физическа издържливост), а второстепенните герои са понякога толкова опростени, че предизвикват въртене на очи. Но поне я има онази сладка непосредственост, която направи прочита ми много приятен.
3,5 звезди за неорязаната версия
В оригиналната версия, сканирана в библиотеките, сюжетът все още си е оригиналният. Там викингите са точно тази смесица между храбри авантюристи, смели търговци и отвратителни убийци и роботърговци, което е що годе близко до историята. В сюжета все още я има онази непредвидимост, която днешните щампи напълно са заличили, да не вземат да се стреснат крехките читателки. Пътят до хепи енда е постлан с много приключения из средновековни Дания и Франция, обрати и предрасъдъци. До последно не е ясно как изобщо ще се стигне до щастлива развръзка.
Макар влюбените гълъбчета да са някак твърде тинейджърски построени, или young adult по днешните стандарти, все пак имат какво да предложат.
Героинята е минала през няколко кръга на Ада - в нецензурираната версия - и е успяла да се укрие като незабележима робиня в клан на викингски рейдъри, готови за бесилката по всякакви стандарти. Една сватба и размяна с булката и отварят пътя за промяна. Жаждата и за достойно съществуване като свободно човешко същество никога не е затихвала, и тя ще се бори докрай за това, оставайки понякога сляпа за подводните течения наоколо.
Героят е минал своя дял от житейски неприятности, довели до осакатяване. Макар дебелата му глава да е поувряла, никак не е променила презрителното му отношение към робите като към не-хора, низши и недостойни за доверие предмети на собствеността. През половината сюжет точно тези здраво вкоренени предрасъдъци го правят неприятен тип, който отказва да погледне извън здраво затвърдените си предрасъдъци. Но именно срещата с момичето започва да го променя, без той да се усети.
В неорязаната версия има житейско израстване и промяна към по-добро, силата да се справиш със злото в миналото и с несигурността на бъдещето, когато има вече за кого да се грижиш. В неорязаната - нищо подобно, поредната боза, която се харчи сред внимателно желаещи да бъдат изцяло държани на тъмно ескейпистки.
Естествено, в неорязания сюжет има куп бели конци (счупените ребра не са пречка за бесни подвизи и чудеса от физическа издържливост), а второстепенните герои са понякога толкова опростени, че предизвикват въртене на очи. Но поне я има онази сладка непосредственост, която направи прочита ми много приятен.
3,5 звезди за неорязаната версия
October 28, 2019
I have been looking for this book, I wouldn't have found it if I hadn't scrolled past it just now, yay!
March 4, 2012
This review posted on Guilty Pleasures
Captive Heart by Phoebe Conn is a story like I’ve never read before. I have read historical romances but never one with Vikings and their conquests. This story is about a French slave girl, Celiese d’Loganville, who was taken at the age 12 from her home to become one of the many spoils of the Torgvalds and became the handmaiden for Viking Lord Raktor’s daughter Olgrethe. 5 years later she is given a chance to escape this life and marry Mylan Vandahl, another Viking who has been horribly disfigured from a hunting accident, in Olgrethe’s place. The deception works briefly for one night, her wedding night, until it all goes horribly wrong the next day. Now she is fighting for her life every day to stay alive in the hands of her enemy and the one man who has captured her heart with tender love.
For the entire book this girl could not catch a break. She is not trusted, accused of being liar and a traitor, and always being treated like a slave. At every turn she wants to be a wife and loved by Mylan.
Mylan can’t move beyond the immediate hurt and betrayal and never gives her credit for her efforts. Even though they never speak what is truly in their hearts to each other, their nights of loving are passionate and tender. Mylan sees for himself that his own father can’t be trusted and heads off to France to return Celiese to her homeland. More trouble pursues the couple again once they get there which forces the couple to do things that somehow look like betrayal!
Once you think they are finally in the clear and it all will work out for them he does the unexpected and leaves. ARGH!! It is in this time when they are apart that they both realize that they didn’t give one another time for understanding and patience to get to know the other. They know that they belong together and will actually tell the other if they are ever given that opportunity to do so. Their love scenes were beautifully written and the whole story was an adventure. The romance between Mylan and Celiese might be contentious but they complement each other and definitely belong together.
Captive Heart by Phoebe Conn is a story like I’ve never read before. I have read historical romances but never one with Vikings and their conquests. This story is about a French slave girl, Celiese d’Loganville, who was taken at the age 12 from her home to become one of the many spoils of the Torgvalds and became the handmaiden for Viking Lord Raktor’s daughter Olgrethe. 5 years later she is given a chance to escape this life and marry Mylan Vandahl, another Viking who has been horribly disfigured from a hunting accident, in Olgrethe’s place. The deception works briefly for one night, her wedding night, until it all goes horribly wrong the next day. Now she is fighting for her life every day to stay alive in the hands of her enemy and the one man who has captured her heart with tender love.
For the entire book this girl could not catch a break. She is not trusted, accused of being liar and a traitor, and always being treated like a slave. At every turn she wants to be a wife and loved by Mylan.
Mylan can’t move beyond the immediate hurt and betrayal and never gives her credit for her efforts. Even though they never speak what is truly in their hearts to each other, their nights of loving are passionate and tender. Mylan sees for himself that his own father can’t be trusted and heads off to France to return Celiese to her homeland. More trouble pursues the couple again once they get there which forces the couple to do things that somehow look like betrayal!
Once you think they are finally in the clear and it all will work out for them he does the unexpected and leaves. ARGH!! It is in this time when they are apart that they both realize that they didn’t give one another time for understanding and patience to get to know the other. They know that they belong together and will actually tell the other if they are ever given that opportunity to do so. Their love scenes were beautifully written and the whole story was an adventure. The romance between Mylan and Celiese might be contentious but they complement each other and definitely belong together.
February 14, 2013
I have read it when I was 20, in 1995 (yes yes, a lot of time ago!!!!), and I give it 4 stars for my impression at the time: well written, interesting and non-usual setting, a lot of twists in the story, strong male with brutal past, hard-headed heroine with lovely sayings.
Not so bad, really!
Not so bad, really!
Want to read
June 18, 2020Note: The Kindle version is renamed Love's Captive Heart: Author's Cut Edition
November 1, 2019
This review is of “Captive Heart” by Phoebe Conn.
The book takes place at an undetermined point in history. It is here that Celiese d’Loganville, the heroine of the book, is a slave to Olgerthe Torvald, the pampered daughter of Raktor Torvald, a brutal Viking warlord.
As the book begins, Aldread Valdahl, whose family hates the Torvalds, offers a truce to Raktor. Aldread’s son, Mylan, will marry Olgerethe, and end the feud between the families. Olgerethe refuses to go along with the plan; she will not marry Mylan due to his being disfigured after a fight with a bear. She convinces Celiese to marry Mylan in her place.
When Celiese meets Mylan, the hero of the book, she discovers despite his disfigurement that he is a very handsome man. They marry and consummate their marriage. The next day, however, Raktor tries to kill the couple. Mylan believes that Celiese knew of the pending attack and grows to hate her. This leads to Mylan spending the next part of the book emotionally and mentally abusing Celiese, calling her his slave among other derogatory statements. Mylan does offer Celiese a lifeline, however, telling her that if she kills the bear that maimed him, he will set her free. Celiese sets out to do just that, although she doesn’t actually end the bear’s life-Mylan does-she does wound the bear, and Mylan sets her free.
Celiese goes back to Mylan’s family, but this creates further problems. One of Mylan’s younger brothers, Hagen, is in love/lust with Celiese, and later, one of Olgerethe’s brothers, Oluf, tries to rape Celiese. Mylan kills him, but with the other Torvald brothers vowing revenge-and his own father helping them-Mylan and Celiese head to France. Upon arriving in France, Celiese discovers her mother, Marie, is alive. Their reunion doesn’t go well, however, when Marie discovers that Celiese is married to Mylan, a hated Viking. Celiese plans to get her family’s land back from the Danish invader Hrolf, now known as Robert, who obtained the land from King Charles. Celiese’s plan does not go well.
After being imprisoned by Robert, Mylan rescues her. He does so by claiming to renounce his Danish heritage, agreeing to become a Christian and marrying Celiese again. This second marriage, however, does not solve all of the issues between them.
By the end of the book, both Celiese and Mylan realize that they do love each other and put those feelings into words that help them find their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Celiese. She endures unspeakable cruelty from virtually all the males in her life, but she remains strong. That’s a great quality to have.
Downside: For the first third of the book, Mylan is a total bastard. He inflicts intentional emotional and mental cruelty upon Celiese. Yes, she lied to him in the beginning, but that doesn’t justify his treatment of her. Most of the time, Celiese doesn't think through her actions, leading her to get into difficult and sometimes dangerous situations
With the exception of Celiese’s stablehand, Andre, there isn’t a likeable male in “Captive Heart”.
Sex: The love scenes in “Captive Heart” are more about the emotions of the act than the esoterics.
Violence: It is mentioned that Celiese was treated brutally by Raktor and his sons. Later, Celiese is assaulted several times. The violence described is not graphic.
Bottom Line: Ms. Conn’s take on “Beauty and the Beast” is far from classic.
The book takes place at an undetermined point in history. It is here that Celiese d’Loganville, the heroine of the book, is a slave to Olgerthe Torvald, the pampered daughter of Raktor Torvald, a brutal Viking warlord.
As the book begins, Aldread Valdahl, whose family hates the Torvalds, offers a truce to Raktor. Aldread’s son, Mylan, will marry Olgerethe, and end the feud between the families. Olgerethe refuses to go along with the plan; she will not marry Mylan due to his being disfigured after a fight with a bear. She convinces Celiese to marry Mylan in her place.
When Celiese meets Mylan, the hero of the book, she discovers despite his disfigurement that he is a very handsome man. They marry and consummate their marriage. The next day, however, Raktor tries to kill the couple. Mylan believes that Celiese knew of the pending attack and grows to hate her. This leads to Mylan spending the next part of the book emotionally and mentally abusing Celiese, calling her his slave among other derogatory statements. Mylan does offer Celiese a lifeline, however, telling her that if she kills the bear that maimed him, he will set her free. Celiese sets out to do just that, although she doesn’t actually end the bear’s life-Mylan does-she does wound the bear, and Mylan sets her free.
Celiese goes back to Mylan’s family, but this creates further problems. One of Mylan’s younger brothers, Hagen, is in love/lust with Celiese, and later, one of Olgerethe’s brothers, Oluf, tries to rape Celiese. Mylan kills him, but with the other Torvald brothers vowing revenge-and his own father helping them-Mylan and Celiese head to France. Upon arriving in France, Celiese discovers her mother, Marie, is alive. Their reunion doesn’t go well, however, when Marie discovers that Celiese is married to Mylan, a hated Viking. Celiese plans to get her family’s land back from the Danish invader Hrolf, now known as Robert, who obtained the land from King Charles. Celiese’s plan does not go well.
After being imprisoned by Robert, Mylan rescues her. He does so by claiming to renounce his Danish heritage, agreeing to become a Christian and marrying Celiese again. This second marriage, however, does not solve all of the issues between them.
By the end of the book, both Celiese and Mylan realize that they do love each other and put those feelings into words that help them find their Happily Ever After.
Upside: Celiese. She endures unspeakable cruelty from virtually all the males in her life, but she remains strong. That’s a great quality to have.
Downside: For the first third of the book, Mylan is a total bastard. He inflicts intentional emotional and mental cruelty upon Celiese. Yes, she lied to him in the beginning, but that doesn’t justify his treatment of her. Most of the time, Celiese doesn't think through her actions, leading her to get into difficult and sometimes dangerous situations
With the exception of Celiese’s stablehand, Andre, there isn’t a likeable male in “Captive Heart”.
Sex: The love scenes in “Captive Heart” are more about the emotions of the act than the esoterics.
Violence: It is mentioned that Celiese was treated brutally by Raktor and his sons. Later, Celiese is assaulted several times. The violence described is not graphic.
Bottom Line: Ms. Conn’s take on “Beauty and the Beast” is far from classic.
August 9, 2009
Can I give a book negative stars somehow?
December 5, 2017
So passionate, angtsy & full of turmoil at the same, l♡ve.🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟💙
February 27, 2012
I rarely ever give a one star review but when I do, I like to explain a bit why I did so. This book wasn't so terribly bad and it all worked out in the end, but for me it was just way too little, way too late. The constant arguments and "misunderstandings" grew to be overbearing. The lead couple never seemed to be happy, or if there were a few seconds of happiness, no worries there, it was completely and utterly dashed by the careless, hurtful words of the hero. This happened rather frequently. The constant bombardment of betrayal and willfulness from the heroine (not my view of the heroine, which I thought her to be a brave but sometimes naive woman who fought so strongly just to stay alive) just frustrating beyond belief. I truly felt for the heroine and believed she deserved so very much better than what she was given, even in the end. I was just sorely disappointed in this book and while I stuck it out to the end to make sure the heroine had some semblance of a happy ending, I don't know if I will read another of this author's books from this time or the re-released version as this one was. I wish there was more happiness in the book, more thoughtfulness on behalf of both. I found I was just turned off by the constant negativity and found myself skimming it.
March 11, 2012
I thought this book had a lot of twists and turns. I could identify with the characters, but at times thought the romance was a little drawn out. I do admit that the book is unpredictable and enjoyed the fact that I couldn't predict what comes next. It had villains and heroes, adventure, love and friendship. My one real criticisms is that I hope Phoebe will write a squeal. The story ends, but actually she could write a whole new book where this one left off, and I hope she does!
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews