What do you think?
My Lord's Captive: A spicy, Victorian, enemies to lovers where female rage meets the chance for redemption
818 pages, Kindle Edition
Published March 2, 2026
About the author
Caitlin Riegel
1 book40 followersCaitlin 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.
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.
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Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews
August 12, 2026
I'll start by saying that historical romance...or in this case, victorian romance, isn't my typical genre. But you know what, I ATE THIS BOOK UP.
If it wasn't for adulting, I could have finished this book in 2 days tops despite it being over 600 pages.
Honestly though the tension between Miles and Gladiola was just that. Tense. The banter! 🙌🏻 the slow burn 🔥 Miles...and that mouth🫠🥵
It was perfect.
Also the heartbreak both these characters gone through. The kind that's unimaginable unless you've unfortunately experienced it. Just had my heart hurting for them. Especially for Miles. 😭
Their relationship starts off, intense to say the least. One minute you want to hate Miles. The next you understand him.
And like Gladiola you find the cracks in the walls he built so high and find a way through.
And yall, when she gets passed those walls, finds out the heartbreaking truth of what Miles holds in his heart, we see a side of him that just has us falling for him. Just like Gladiola. 🫠
The last several chapters of the book though oh my gosh, talk about having me on the edge of my seat. I was not expecting such a turn of events. 😳 but our girl Glad took care of the situation. 👏🏻
The ending was simply sweet.
Even though it was already a thick book, I would have gladly read more.
I just loved these two.
Looking forward tor reading more from Caitlin.
🫶🏻 also thank you Caitlin for sending me a copy of My Lord's Captive, so grateful to have this beauty on my shelf. I only regret not having gotten to it sooner.🫶🏻
If it wasn't for adulting, I could have finished this book in 2 days tops despite it being over 600 pages.
Honestly though the tension between Miles and Gladiola was just that. Tense. The banter! 🙌🏻 the slow burn 🔥 Miles...and that mouth🫠🥵
It was perfect.
Also the heartbreak both these characters gone through. The kind that's unimaginable unless you've unfortunately experienced it. Just had my heart hurting for them. Especially for Miles. 😭
Their relationship starts off, intense to say the least. One minute you want to hate Miles. The next you understand him.
And like Gladiola you find the cracks in the walls he built so high and find a way through.
And yall, when she gets passed those walls, finds out the heartbreaking truth of what Miles holds in his heart, we see a side of him that just has us falling for him. Just like Gladiola. 🫠
The last several chapters of the book though oh my gosh, talk about having me on the edge of my seat. I was not expecting such a turn of events. 😳 but our girl Glad took care of the situation. 👏🏻
The ending was simply sweet.
Even though it was already a thick book, I would have gladly read more.
I just loved these two.
Looking forward tor reading more from Caitlin.
🫶🏻 also thank you Caitlin for sending me a copy of My Lord's Captive, so grateful to have this beauty on my shelf. I only regret not having gotten to it sooner.🫶🏻
April 14, 2026
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
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
March 8, 2026
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😆
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😆
May 18, 2026
What would you do if the man everyone feared became your husband… and your captor?
🌹 "How fitting, you mourned your mother’s death, and now you must mourn the death of your freedom.”
My Lord’s Captive completely owns a piece of my heart. A dark, poignant debut that somehow reads effortlessly while still being beautifully layered, detailed, and so full of adventure.
The writing is intimate and descriptive without ever feeling heavy, and the Language of Flowers intertwined throughout adds such an enchanting, symbolic layer. Plus, the found family and friendships gave the story such a genuine, lived-in warmth that made it feel even more real.
🌹 “You just have to know in your heart, that everything in life eventually works itself out.”
And the chemistry?? The slow burn YEARNING had me feral. Miles is the kind of morally grey MMC that gives you emotional whiplash in the best way possible. One second he’s cold and terrifying, the next he’s doing these quiet acts of love that make your heart ache. Watching him fall hard before he even realizes it himself was EVERYTHING. Add in the witty banter, forced proximity, protective moments, and all that spicy tension between them? I was obsessed!
🌹 “You have no idea what you are doing to me, Gladiola. Every part of me is begging for you.”
And Gladiola’s journey? Heartbreaking, healing, and powerful in all the right ways… rage, forgiveness, and learning what it means to be truly seen.
🌹 “She would take the opportunity to get to know the man behind the mystery.”
…please put this on your radar immediately!
💫 My Lord’s Captive by Caitlin Riegel
Dark Historical Romance (Victorian) | Enemies to Lovers | Marriage of Convenience | Hurt/Comfort | “My Wife” | He Falls First | Feminine Rage | 818 pp | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
💫 Favorite Quote:
“Every inch of you is precious, Flower. I want to shower you with absolute affection. You are mine, and I will behold you with the adoration you deserve.”
🌹 "How fitting, you mourned your mother’s death, and now you must mourn the death of your freedom.”
My Lord’s Captive completely owns a piece of my heart. A dark, poignant debut that somehow reads effortlessly while still being beautifully layered, detailed, and so full of adventure.
The writing is intimate and descriptive without ever feeling heavy, and the Language of Flowers intertwined throughout adds such an enchanting, symbolic layer. Plus, the found family and friendships gave the story such a genuine, lived-in warmth that made it feel even more real.
🌹 “You just have to know in your heart, that everything in life eventually works itself out.”
And the chemistry?? The slow burn YEARNING had me feral. Miles is the kind of morally grey MMC that gives you emotional whiplash in the best way possible. One second he’s cold and terrifying, the next he’s doing these quiet acts of love that make your heart ache. Watching him fall hard before he even realizes it himself was EVERYTHING. Add in the witty banter, forced proximity, protective moments, and all that spicy tension between them? I was obsessed!
🌹 “You have no idea what you are doing to me, Gladiola. Every part of me is begging for you.”
And Gladiola’s journey? Heartbreaking, healing, and powerful in all the right ways… rage, forgiveness, and learning what it means to be truly seen.
🌹 “She would take the opportunity to get to know the man behind the mystery.”
…please put this on your radar immediately!
💫 My Lord’s Captive by Caitlin Riegel
Dark Historical Romance (Victorian) | Enemies to Lovers | Marriage of Convenience | Hurt/Comfort | “My Wife” | He Falls First | Feminine Rage | 818 pp | ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (5/5)
💫 Favorite Quote:
“Every inch of you is precious, Flower. I want to shower you with absolute affection. You are mine, and I will behold you with the adoration you deserve.”
May 14, 2026
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.
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.
March 9, 2026
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
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
Review of advance copy received from Author
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!
It's easily a 5 star read with fantastic spice!
May 18, 2026
Thank you to the author for an early ARC!
Set in the Victorian Era, this SPICY enemies to lovers historical romance absolutely blew me away! Miles, the morally grey MMC, might be grumpy and possessive but that man is in LOVE with Gladiola 🥹 He freaking learned French so he could read her favorite book - WHAT?! YES PLEASEEEEE!
.
Tropes:
🖤HEAVY on the enemies to lovers
🖤Forced Marriage
🖤SO.MUCH.SPICE
🖤Touch her/him and 💀
🖤 Female rage / “Make Me”
🖤 MINE vibes 🥵
.
Absolutely 100% chefs kiss. Yes the book is long but I promise you, it’s worth it!!!
Set in the Victorian Era, this SPICY enemies to lovers historical romance absolutely blew me away! Miles, the morally grey MMC, might be grumpy and possessive but that man is in LOVE with Gladiola 🥹 He freaking learned French so he could read her favorite book - WHAT?! YES PLEASEEEEE!
.
Tropes:
🖤HEAVY on the enemies to lovers
🖤Forced Marriage
🖤SO.MUCH.SPICE
🖤Touch her/him and 💀
🖤 Female rage / “Make Me”
🖤 MINE vibes 🥵
.
Absolutely 100% chefs kiss. Yes the book is long but I promise you, it’s worth it!!!
April 18, 2026
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.
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.
May 18, 2026
This was my first historical fiction/romance read and let's just say I'm obsessed 🤭
This book is so insanely detailed and I love the depth of both Miles and Gladiola.
While there were times that Gladiola frustrated me with not trusting Miles, after finishing the book I do realize there were moments when he was being a complete prick toward her.
Overall, this was a great read and would definitely recommend!! Can't wait to see what Caitlin gives us next 😍
This book is so insanely detailed and I love the depth of both Miles and Gladiola.
While there were times that Gladiola frustrated me with not trusting Miles, after finishing the book I do realize there were moments when he was being a complete prick toward her.
Overall, this was a great read and would definitely recommend!! Can't wait to see what Caitlin gives us next 😍
June 11, 2026
I loved the lessons of growth, grief, and forgiveness— which truly surprised me. I was expecting a little history lesson with a romance plot but the author incorporated several subplots that gave her characters and her story depth and relatability. This may have been not my typical read, but I enjoyed it all the same.
I’d recommend to others that enjoy a romance with substance or a historical romance. Thank you to the author for the free copy. My opinions are my own.
I’d recommend to others that enjoy a romance with substance or a historical romance. Thank you to the author for the free copy. My opinions are my own.
June 26, 2026
This book is thick, but so is the tension between our FMC and MMC! Can I introduce to you the next historical romance you may want to sneak onto your TBR?! It was checking boxes for me and no it sure did NOT disappoint! You can tell in every sentence, this author poured her heart into it. Lots of depth and emotions that you can feel while reading. There was definitely darkness to some of our characters, but also such tenderness. And I love them. Also think it could be a great movie, with the plot- yes please! Anyways!! Dive in and enjoy if it’s your genre of choice!
March 29, 2026
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
Xoxo- Elaine
August 19, 2026
I really enjoyed this! It had everything I love morally grey man, stubborn witty woman, Victorian era setting & 10/10 spicy scenes.
April 21, 2026
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!!
February 21, 2026
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.
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.
Displaying 1 - 16 of 16 reviews