My Lord's Captive: A spicy, Victorian, enemies to lovers where female rage meets the chance for redemption

by Caitlin Riegel

818 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 2, 2026

About the author

Caitlin Riegel is married to the man of her dreams, who is the inspiration behind all her swoon-worthy, morally grey, male characters. She has an affinity for history, especially Victorian England and Greek/Egyptian Mythology, curse words, and tequila. She writes badasses in ball gowns and men who fight like the devil for their ladies.

Caitlin lives with her husband, two children, and three pets in a home she can call her own. Her journey through grief results in writing from a deeply hurt yet dynamically genuine place in her heart.

If you enjoy history lessons infused with a great deal of spice, check out her socials or website for more information on WIPs, published works, and more goodies. And don’t forget, if you find a man who would tear down the world for you, don’t ever let him go.

Reviews

[romanceafterdusk · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 🥀

i have been in love with pride and prejudice since i was 13, so victorian and regency romances will always have my heart. the second i saw this book with its artwork, tropes, and a 𝙨𝙥𝙞𝙘𝙮 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝙡𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙨 set in that era, i knew i had to read it. and it did not disappoint! the writing made everything feel so vivid and easy to picture, and i was completely pulled into the world from the start. caitlin is such a phenomenal writer and super underrated!!! this book deserves to be recognized more. you could tell the time and effort she poured into this book so y’all need to hurry up and grab this book if you’re a fan of historical romance! i’m truly grateful for being one of the recipients of this wonderful box.

our fmc gladiola was such a beautiful character to follow. she’s grieving, navigating a life she never chose, and trying to hold onto herself in the middle of it all. i especially loved how her love for flowers and their meanings tied into her emotions and memories. it added such a soft, meaningful layer to her character.

and miles is truly THAT morally grey man we love to read. cold and feared but with glimpses of something deeper. i know that man IS SOFT underneath all of that. can we also talk about the fact that he learned french just to read her favorite book to her?? i swear there is just something about morally grey mmcs when they do the softest, most thoughtful things for their girl!!! it’s those small, intentional acts that make me absolutely melt every time. it just hits every. single. time!! like God, can i just get one of them please??? wrap him up for me now?? and deliver him right to my address?

this was such an easy five star read for me. i loved the balance of romance and story, and i absolutely didn’t want it to end! if you love historical romance with a darker edge, PICK THIS UP NOW. you won’t regret!!

tropes:
🕯️victorian era
🥀enemies to lovers
🕯️marriage of convenience
🥀morally grey mmc
🕯️feminine rage
🥀forced proximity
🕯️grumpy x sunshine
🥀age gap

[Kamari Sirelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is my first time reading a historical fiction book (I'm gonna be honest, I'm allergic to history during high school🤥) but then after reading this, let's just say that it finally changed my point of view. this book was beautifully written indeed and what got me hooked is that the MMC which is Miles Bertram put in the effort to learn French just to read his wife's favourite book about the language of flowers since it reminds her of her mother so much. And what makes it more romantic is that he gifted her an English translation of the book just so that he could read it to her (alright, now where can I find a man like him irl🤧)

aside from the romance, I genuinely feel like I need to talk about the historical context especially when the Naning War is mentioned. as a Malaysian, Naning is one of the significant regions in what makes Malaysia today as it is. so here's a brief summary of what I've learned about the war during high school. The root cause of the war stemmed from the British claiming they inherit the right to collect a 10% tax on Naning's annual crops. However, the Penghulu of Naning (aka the chief) known as Dol Said refused, stating that Naning was an independent sovereign state. Despite a humiliating initial defeat in 1831 where British forces were repelled by guerilla tactics, they returned in 1832 in a much larger force and successfully broke Dol Said's regional alliances. The war ended with the annexation of Naning into Malacca and the surrender of Dol Said, who is now celebrated as a national hero in Malaysia for his early resistance against colonial rule.

so if you're looking for an arranged marriage but in Victorian era, i'd highly recommend this book❤️‍🔥trust me, it's so hard to put down😆

[Stephanie Rhamstine · Rating 5 out of 5]

You know when you randomly pick up a book and end up sitting there wondering why nobody is talking about it?? Because that was me with My Lord’s Captive. I went in expecting a Regency romance and somehow ended up fully invested, emotionally attached, and wondering why more people haven’t put this on their radar.

As someone who will immediately perk up at anything with Regency and Pride & Prejudice vibes, this one already had me interested. But what really sold me was how much love and care you could feel poured into these pages. The research, the atmosphere, the little details… it all made the world feel rich and immersive. I could picture every scene so clearly that it honestly felt like stepping into another time period.

Miles is very much giving morally gray, dangerous man energy, while Gladiola brings wit and heart in a way that balanced him so well. Their dynamic had tension, banter, stubbornness, and all the emotional push-and-pull that kept me turning pages. And beneath all of that? There’s grief, healing, family, secrets, and characters that felt layered enough to make me genuinely care where their story went.

This book honestly deserves more recognition because you can tell Caitlin Riegel poured her whole heart into it, and I was hooked from beginning to end.

[C · Rating 5 out of 5]

A captivating historical romance that had me hooked from start to finish! The author’s ability to draw readers into the world of the story is truly impressive. The setting felt rich and immersive, making it easy to picture every scene as it unfolded. The characters were well developed and emotionally compelling, and I found myself deeply invested in their journey.

Caitlin Riegel writes historical romance beautifully, striking the perfect balance of tension, longing, and heartfelt moments, all while weaving in thoughtful details true to the era in which the story is set. Watching the relationship grow and evolve kept me turning the pages, eager to see how everything would come together. (And yes—I found myself laughing, crying, hating, and completely obsessing over the characters!)

Overall, this was a wonderfully engaging read filled with emotion, atmosphere, and a love story that lingers long after the final page. It’s hard to believe this is the author’s debut novel. A must-read for fans of historical romance

[Whimsical.bookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was beautifully written and is one of my favorite books of the year. The love, research, and time that went into this book made it a chef's kiss. I actually took my time reading this book because I didn't want it to end. It is very captivating and hard to put down. One of my favorite parts in the book is where Glad talks about flowers and how each one has a different meaning. It is also a way for her to remember and connect with her mother. Miles is a feared lord given a second chance to a new life. But will it be another trophy to add to his collection, or will he let his emotions over take him?

It's easily a 5 star read with fantastic spice!

[Payton · Rating 4 out of 5]

what a journey

This is not the type of love that’s easy. There’s ups and downs. They take two steps forward and then seven steps back. There’s a vulnerability to both of them at times. This is not my typical read and honestly I enjoyed it. I love the friendships that our leading lady has, maintains and grows throughout this book. She’s so feisty and so sweet at times. There were some formatting issues but they didn’t bother me too much.

[ElainesBookshelf · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I tell you I DEVOURED this book… I DEVOURED THIS BOOK!!!! My girl Caitlin knows how to write a Victorian era book🤭🤭

Xoxo- Elaine

[Angel · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve read over 65 books this year and this was one of the best I’ve read!! Top 10!! This author has every bright career!! I loved the writing style and the Characters!! The story stays with you and you can’t wait to get back to it!’ I didn’t find any slow parts it was a great read the whole way through!! I can’t wait to read her next novel!!

[Allyse Reinauer · Rating 5 out of 5]

A tumultuous love story that had me laughing, crying and gripping the edge of my seat.
The plot and characters seamlessly oscillate between sweet and wicked.
I would recommend this to any historical romance lover looking for something a little on the darker side.