Captive Heart

The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch #2

by Sarah McKerrigan, Glynnis Campbell

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"The well-written story...helped to keep this reader glued to the pages long into the night"–Reviewers International Organization

From USA Today bestselling author Glynnis Campbell… A fierce warrior maid tries to save her sister from marriage by abducting the groom's right-hand man, a plan that goes awry when her hostage is all-too-willing to succumb to her demands.

Helena of Rivenloch has fire in her heart and battle in her blood, and she’s desperate to save her youngest sister from a fate worse than death...marriage. When Helena attempts and fails to slay the bridegroom, she does the next best thing...abducts his right-hand man, the witty and dashing Sir Colin du Lac, and demands her sister as ransom. But her plans go awry as her captive—amused and enchanted by her wild spirit—becomes a willing participant in her scheme, and Helena soon finds her own heart held hostage.

CAPTIVE HEART
Book 2 of The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch
Damsels in shining armor...riding to the rescue! Deirdre, Helena, and Miriel, three kick-arse Scots wenches known as The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch, aren’t about to become any man’s chattel, until they meet heroes who are strong enough to tame their wild ways and worthy enough to win their wayward hearts.

84,000 words = 356 pages
R-rated for passionate passages

In This Series

The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch
9th Century – THE SHIPWRECK (a novella)
9th Century – A YULETIDE KISS (a short story)
1136 – LADY DANGER
1136 – CAPTIVE HEART
1136 – KNIGHT'S PRIZE

Key Scottish historical romance, adventure stories, strong women, Highland brides, knight in shining armor, kidnapped, medieval castles, sisters, sword fighting, Highland romance, women warriors, stories with humor

More Historical Romances by Glynnis Campbell

The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch
THE SHIPWRECK (a novella)
A YULETIDE KISS (a short story)
LADY DANGER
CAPTIVE HEART
KNIGHT'S PRIZE

The Warrior Daughters of Rivenloch
THE STORMING (a novella)
A RIVENLOCH CHRISTMAS (a short story)
BRIDE OF FIRE
BRIDE OF ICE
BRIDE OF MIST

The Knights of de Ware
THE HANDFASTING (a novella)
MY CHAMPION
MY WARRIOR
MY HERO

Medieval Outlaws
THE REIVER (a novella)
DANGER'S KISS
PASSION'S EXILE
DESIRE'S RANSOM

Scottish Lasses
THE OUTCAST (a novella)
MacFARLAND'S LASS
MacADAM'S LASS
MacKENZIE'S LASS

California Legends
THE STOWAWAY (a novella)
NATIVE GOLD
NATIVE WOLF
NATIVE HAWK

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance, Historical, Medieval, Historical Fiction, Scotland, Fiction

354 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2006

About the author

From http://www.sarahmckerrigan.com/index...

Sarah McKerrigan is another pen name of GLYNNIS CAMPBELL. When she isn’t writing historical romance, she’s the voice of several cartoon characters, the wife of a rock star, and the mother of two nerdy kids.

She started her eclectic career as a ballerina in her hometown of Paradise, California, where she became the city’s Gold Nugget Queen. She graduated from CSU Chico with a degree in Music with Distinction, singing arias by day and playing rock and roll at night.

A lifelong love of towering castles, trusty swords, and knights (and damsels) in shining armor prompted Glynnis to try writing historical romance. Her premiere novel, MY CHAMPION, was a finalist for a RITA award. Her subsequent MY WARRIOR, MY HERO, and A KNIGHT’S VOW received multiple awards and critical acclaim.

Under the nom de plume of Sarah McKerrigan, Glynnis has written three medieval romance novels for Warner Books featuring kick-ass warrior wenches: LADY DANGER, CAPTIVE HEART, and KNIGHT’S PRIZE

Reviews

[Aou · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love the warrior maids but Helena was too obstinate and aggressive for me but the banter was worthy of 3,5 stars.

[Angelc · Rating 4 out of 5]

This one was my favorite of this great series! I read this one first, but the first book in the series, Lady Danger, covers the same time period from a different point of view. I read them back to back because I loved this one so much, but Lady Danger seemed too repetitive of this one, and I liked the characters better in "Captive Heart."

[Miranda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Five stars for this one! I wish I could give more!

Second book of the Rivenloch Warrior Maids series. It's FABULOUS! I simply cannot get enough of this author. Glynnis Campbell takes you back to medieval times - from the food, to the clothing, and the sights - she has to be one of my favorite authors now.

The two main characters in this story is Helena and Colin. I loved the witty banter and the interaction between the two. Ms. Campbell will draw you in and make you laugh within the first couple of pages. Colin is such a funny and fun character. I just loved reading about him. Helena is another strong female heroine and I found myself really liking her character a lot more than I thought I would.

There is plenty of action in this one. I highly recommend anyone who loves historical romance (especially Scottish romance) to read this book. This author is absolutely amazing. You will be captured up in the story from the first page until the very last.

This is going on to "my favorites" list. Well worth the read and it left my heart smiling.

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another wonderful story, fast paced, with lots of excitement on and off the battlefield. I love the banter between Helena and Colin, another battle of sorts. These Warrior Maid's are a force to be reckoned with.
I have to say this story picked up where Helena was taken off to a cellar room by Colin, and continues with their story. Now I did wonder just how much of the story in book one would be repeated in book two, which can be so annoying. I decided to download the sample first before purchase. Glynnis Campbell got it exactly right, read the sample, bought the book and now I'm about to purchase the final book about the youngest sister.

I highly recommend this series and I was lucky enough to get the first book FREE, check these out, I'm sure you'll love these kickass women too !

[anita.thebookaddict · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this Medieval series, the heroines are the boss!!!

[Shiran · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's so easy to devour the books in this series, with strong-willed females in a world where men rule, you know that every page is going to be entertaining. I enjoyed this book thoroughly, not as much as the first, but still, Helena’s story was action-packed and exciting. The reason this book wasn’t as great as the first was because I found Helena’s impulsive nature a bit annoying. Campbell wrote her character well though, everything she did was on impulse and made for some frustrating, and entertaining moments. I do like that Helena stuck to her guns and wouldn’t allow herself to be dominated by a man, even if the way she went about it made me want to smack her.

Colin was a very entertaining character, I liked that he teased Helena and the way he charmed everyone. At one stage I really wanted him to go all caveman on her, just throw her over his shoulder and carry her back to Rivenloch. I’m so used to having hot, dominating Highlander men in these types of books and it’s quite entertaining to have the men be noble Normans who react a lot calmer to situations. They’re still damn hot though and I find that when they do go all “me Tarzan, you Jane” on the ladies, you can’t help but fall in love with them.

The way this storyline was built was fantastic, I loved that it ran parallel to the events in the first book and that we get to see Pagan and Deirdre’s relationship through someone else’s eyes. It was fascinating to see how Helena reacted to their relationship and how Colin viewed the events of the first book. Campbell does a great job of building excitement and mystery for the next book and I have no doubt that she has saved the best for last. I’m excited to get started and see what sweet, timid Miriel is really like.

[Maria Dariotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book 2 of the Warrior Maids of Rivenloch .

This story is Helena and Colin's, Helena is Deirdre's sister and captain of the men at arms , she's a fierce warrior in her own right . Helena's story starts of in the cellar where after a night of nursing her hangover she turns the tables on Colin , really he shouldn't have underestimated her just because she's a woman. She takes him at knife point, knife point , ladies this is one bad ass warrior woman , to the hut in the forest where she'll try to hold him captive thinking that she'll be able to stop the wedding. Who will be the captive and the conquered ? Who will be the winner in this fast paced story ? Follow Hellena and Colin as they come to terms with their attraction! Lots of humour , witty dialogue and steamy instances ! You will not be disappointed!
Glynnis Campbell knows how to keep you glued to the pages! I Recommend this with 5 stars!!!

[Cecily · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Warrior Maids of Rivenloch series heroines have a slightly Disneyesque air about them. It is hard not to imagine their sword play, kidnappings and cottages in the woods as animated adventures, where at the end of each instalment their perfectly formed lips blow an errant lock of hair off their brows and carelessly sweep their hair braid behind them. (Admittedly the 'sex in chain mail' scenes are a problem if the series ever does get the Disney film-makers interested but I am sure these could be cut in the interests of a PG rating). My point being that as enjoyable as these books are it is just really difficult to take Deidre and Helena all that seriously, and that - despite some very determined efforts by the author - the books are sanitised and airbrushed. I like them!

[Sandy Digger · Rating 4 out of 5]

Warrior Maids of Rivenloch

This is book 2 of the series and it carries on with Helena & Colin's story. It starts out kind of slow but once it gets started it picks up speed. This story picks up where book 1 ended although it overlaps enough that it could be read as a standalone book. Helena is the one Warrior Maid that one would ever succumb to a man but Colin seems determined to change that. All I all a good read.

[Wendy Tavenner · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the way Glynnis Campbell writes. Just finished the book and lived it. Helena & Colin are so perfectly matched for each other. She kidnaps him, then they are kidnaped by the English, they escape find love with each other. There is so much with battle of wills btwn the 2. The last 6 chapters are so good I pressed on to get then read!!! Another home run by the Arthur!!

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful read. Give it a try, you won't be disappointed!

[Romanticamente Fantasy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dopo le avventure di Deirdre, la maggiore, in Un cuore prigioniero troviamo la seconda fanciulla guerriera di Rivenloch, la forte e bellicosa Helena che avevamo conosciuto nel libro precedente: Una dama pericolosa. Helena è più piccola di Deirdre, ma altrettanto coraggiosa e battagliera. La sua avventura inizia nel primo libro, anche se la sua storia è di sottofondo a quella principale che ha come protagonista Deirdre. In Un Cuore prigioniero ritroveremo, quindi, alcuni avvenimenti già letti nel primo libro ma raccontati dal punto di vista di Helena.

Siamo ancora a Rivenloch sulla frontiera scozzese. E’ l’estate del 1136, Sir Pagan Cameliard ha ricevuto l’ordine da Re David di recarsi e Rivenloch, al cospetto di lord Gellir. Il vecchio gentiluomo è molto debole, sconvolto nell’animo dalla morte della sua amata moglie, Lady Edwina e non ha un erede ma solo tre figlie Deirdre, Helena e Miriel. Sir Pagan deve sposarne una per prendere possesso del castello che si trova in una posizione strategica importante. L’ordine del re è la sua priorità e non importa quale delle tre sposerà, una vale l’altra. Deirdre si offre volontaria per questo sacrificio, e se avete letto il primo libro sappiamo come va a finire.

La missione di Helena diventa uccidere Sir Pagan per evitare alla sorella una vita penosa e avvilente. Ci prova prima delle nozze ma quando fallisce sceglie di rapire il braccio destro di Sir Pagan, il belloccio, vanesio e superficiale Sir Colin du Lac. Helena rilascerà Sir Colin solo in cambio della sorella maggiore Deirdre. Ma sappiamo che, anche i piani migliori rischiano di fallire, l’imprevisto è sempre in agguato. Sir Colin non è esattamente come Helena credeva fosse, la sua facciata da uomo futile e frivolo, nasconde invece un animo coraggioso e brillante. Un cavaliere indomito e temerario con un’intelligenza spiccata e un marcato senso dell’umorismo.

Ma anche le ragazze di Rivenloch non sono uguali a nessun altra donna del tempo, ed Helena non è come le donne a cui è abituato Sir Colin, decisamente no. I protagonisti si scopriranno piano piano: Helena dovrà imparare a rapportarsi con il prode cavaliere e Sir Colin dovrà prendere le “misure” per trattare con una dama pericolosa dal cuore impavido.

Anche il secondo libro della serie è molto carino. I rapporti tra i protagonisti sono, come per il primo, molto divertenti e spassosi. Non mancano, come conviene ad un romanzo storico, scontri, battaglie ed altri momenti avventurosi. I personaggi femminili hanno molta personalità e carattere, affrontano la vita con coraggio e determinazione in un momento storico in cui il ruolo femminile era derubricato ai margini della società.

Il rapporto tra i protagonisti si dipana in modo allegro, con momenti comici ma anche romantici e passionali. Una lettura piacevole e divertente. Non vedo l’ora di iniziare la storia della piccolina di casa: Miriel, ci riserverà delle grandi sorprese.

E.L. Corner - per RFS

[Lina Murphy · Rating 2 out of 5]

*Spoilers*

I'm going to start off with the positive. I think this book was well written. The author does a great job at grabbing your attention and drawing you through the story. She keeps things interesting and the pace is good. There were a few times when I thought the pacing was off, like how little time she spent on the actual siege of the castle by the English, but overall, that was easily over looked. This one is a personal opinion, but the constant usage of "forsooth" in the narrative was something I found a little annoying, but again, easily over looked.

The biggest issue I had with this book, and why I gave it such a low rating was the relationship between the characters. In my opinion, their relationship was not a healthy one and not one I'd glorify in a romance novel. The main two characters fought constantly throughout the entire book. I was hoping it would improve, but it never did. It seemed like the only times they weren't fighting was when they were having sex and the occasion teasing banter as opposed to angry banter. They never truly seemed to understand one another, always doubting the other person and never truly trusting them. It took until the end of the book for Colin to acknowledge that he wasn't going to get her to stop fighting because that's just who she is. And he didn't appreciate it as a part of her, he more seem resigned to the fact that he couldn't stop her from fighting (though he still did at least convince her to withhold while pregnant).

And again, that was part of my main issue. It seemed like the only reason they got married in the end was because Helena ended up pregnant. Not a good message to send if you ask me. Not only that, but there were some mild rapey vibes to me. Yes, we got the story from Helena's point of view, where she's saying that she's blocking her sex from him from instinct, not because she wants him to stop. BUT HE DOESN'T KNOW THAT! She blocks herself from him, and instead of checking in with her to see if he should continue, he moves her hand out of the way and keeps going. Again, not a healthy message to send.

If it weren't for the somewhat sexist views and the unhealthy relationship, I would give this book a 4, no question. But I'd rather there have been more communication between the characters, so they would develop a relationship based on trust and understanding, instead of seeming to be forced to get married because of a baby, even if they did kind of like each other. Many may disagree, but that's where I stand on this.

I will say that this wouldn't stop me from reading some of the author's other books. Maybe some of her more recent books would be better about this as the whole unhealthy relationship thing was more common in romances at the time.

[Kelly · Rating 2 out of 5]

I do tend to shy away from Medieval Romances because I have found that they can be too brutal to find romantic. Heroes are often too quick to issue a slap to bend the will of their heroine, or to use rough sex as a control technique. Not my cup of tea.
I found 'Captive Heart' to a be an enjoyable afternoon read. A well-developed romance, witty banter and a lot of passion diluted any of the violent elements that there were. The hero never even considered using his fists to ensure that Helena toed the line, so I approved. My rating dropped because I felt that the plot was too repetitive and, at times, unsubstantiated.

I liked Colin as a hero; equal parts chivalrous and dominating, he was charming and fairly logical. Helena was not logical and I felt that her characterisation let her down. She was supposed to be 'headstrong' at best and 'stubborn' at worst, but she bordered on illogical and immature. Tantrums came too easily to her and the obstacles that were created based on these traits felt undeveloped and often ridiculous.
The romance between Colin and Helena was well-developed and felt realistic. Hate and distrust turned to begrudging friendship and admiration and then gradually into love. There wasn't the notion that insta-attraction was insta-love.

I suppose I felt that the obstacles in their path were self-imposed. Stubbornly adhered to, the mantras and misunderstandings were a key part of the plot, but there was no explanation for them. Why was Helena so against marriage? Had her father dominated their mother? Had she friends who had been beaten by their husbands? There was no evidence to support her book-long hatred of matrimony. Instead, it just felt that she didn't like the idea because it wasn't her idea.
At least when Colin suspected Helena of cuckolding him with Pagan, he had seen them disappear together, other people were influencing his thoughts and Helena herself was telling Colin that she was intent on seducing Pagan.

Aside from the plot, I really enjoyed the overall writing style and I found myself smiling at the banter and the general telling.

Overall, it was a solid afternoon read that kept me entertained but perhaps just lacked some depth and substantial evidence for later obstacles in the plot.

[Dianne V. Weems · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Kidnapping That Backfires

Helena Warrior Maid of Rivenloch the middle sister of the three as she attempts to kill the bridegroom sent to wed her sister but is stopped by his best friend standing watch over him. Helena is a fierce warrior and will fight to the death to defeat her enemy. She does the next best thing by taking his friend and Best Man Colin du Lac hostage planning to exchange him for her sister and an end the wedding. What she doesn't know is Colin is a Playboy and already spotted her bathing and made up his mind up to have her so he figured there's nothing wrong with being alone with her to further her his plans to get her alone. The bridegroom knowing Colin and seeing the humor in this refuses the ransom and leaves him with her. This works to Colins advantage and he sets out to get her guard down. Colin is a man she can respect as he also is a fierce warrior her equal in fighting. They spend an extended time alone and are attacker by some English thieves that attempt to ransom both of them. Colin escapes and rescues her and their relationship changes and he soon has her in his bed. They are a good match and soon their hearts are involved. They rush back to Rivenloch to alert them when they spot an English Army sneaking up to attack them. Their relationship continues and she soon finds herself pregnant but refuses to marry until he insist he will not father a Bastard. At the insistence of her sister also not wanting her in this situation they marry and are a loving and intensely lustful couple.

[Neus Gutiérrez · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 para Helena.
El libro me ha gustado y la historia me parece interesante. Ya veníamos del anterior y sabemos quién es la pareja, además me ha gustado que empiece cronológicamente casi a la par que el otro. Para no perder nada y conocer todo lo que pasa.
Creo que además está bastante bien estructurado y es coherente con el siglo XII, si bien es verdad que no soy erudita en Escocia de esa época. Colin y Helena me gustan, me parecen una pareja muy potente y se toman mucho el pelo el uno a la otra. Otra cosa que destaco y me ha gustado de este libro, como también del primero, es la fuerte carga sexual que tienen. Lo reconozco. Me gusta que en las novelas históricas se muestre el sexo, la pasión, se hable de ello con naturalidad. No soporto esa idea absurda como si el siglo XX hubiera descubierto el sexo y antes de eso la gente fuera toda virginal y aburrida y no hicieran nada más que el misionero una vez al mes.

¿Por qué entonces el 3? Porque me ha destrozado el final ese momento dramático de desconfianza absurdo. Si bien es verdad que no llegan a los improperios, faltas de respeto y de más -por suerte- he odiado totalmente que la autora metiera ahí ese cliché brutal y trajera el drama con algo tan tonto. Era tan fácil como tener una maldita conversación de 1 minuto y nada habría pasado. Y personalmente no le aporta nada a la trama. Si quería que hubiera un poco más de chicha, se me ocurren como 10 cosas más interesnates y menos típicas por hacer.

Más allá de eso, es un libro interesante, que se lee bien, divertido, con personajes bien estructurados y coherentes que siguen la historia anterior y te dejan con buen sabor de boca.

[Mak ♡ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stars: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ "⭐"
Wonderful: 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰 "🥰"
Hot: 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 "🔥"

Eu amooo esse livrooo... 🥰🥰 Dessa série de três livros, esse é meu favorito sem duvida...
Não consegui evitar realizar uma releitura dessa brilhante série...
Helena of Rivenloch e Sir Colin du Lac .... 🥰🥰🥰
Esse casal me deixou maluquinha.. Amo a interação deles... Eles brigam, brigam,, mas se amam acima de qualquer coisa.. 🤣🤣 Helena é uma guerreira que tem um pensamento sobre o casamento, mas que na hora da emergência toma uma pequena atitude, e acaba metendo os pés pela mãos, quando se entrega de corpo e alma ao seu guerreiro... 🥰🥰 Colin não imaginou que a guerreira que conseguiu lhe raptar fosse uma donzela que precisa de proteção, ela é forte, mas precisa de amor... E não podendo evitar ele se encanta pela guerreira Helena, e faz tudo para tê-la.. O amor deles começa de forma quente, muito quente "🔥🔥", e cada cena deles que meu amooo... 🥰🥰
A super tip ... A wonderful read ... Let's read ...🥰🤩😍
Happy reading,, and until the next reading... 😘😘

[Untamed Rebel · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF!!!
Such a ridiculous book, within the first chapter the h Helena (beautiful name but awful character) manages to capture the H Colin at knifepoint, drag him to the woods as a hostage, then tie him and beat him up. Seriously, this was supposed to be our hero, a so-called “Knight” and “Warrior” that is brought down by a slip of a woman. Yeahhh he’s gonna be a real help in war, a completely believable medieval knight for sure (!) and oh so emasculating. Not my type of hero at all! Was a dumb premise to begin with. The h Helena is such an exaggerated character, all bluster, aggression and wannabe warrior vibes - pass! I can spot a bad book with bad MCs from a mile away. Couldn’t be bothered to read anymore because why waste time on such a bad book?

[Shirley Hamlod · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable second book in this series. We do wonder what became of Colin and Helena in the first book and now we know what adventures they had. Colin and Helena have an even more tempestuous relationship than Pagan and Deirdre. Helena is determined to stay independent of any man until she learns to compromise and accept that they can be partners. A series of misunderstandings and missteps lead them to a deep and passionate relationship.

[PollyAnna Joy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Colin & Helena

The whole kidnapping scheme is brilliant for Helena and Colin. It's so absotively posolutely ridiculous that it works. Kidnapping is serious business, but Helena has no idea that her older sister has already saved their younger sister by marrying Pagan. They could have gone back home immediately, but Colin, the devilish rogue, wanted to spend time alone with Helena...he had seduction on his mind...!

[Beverly Nance · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great Read

This book ties in with the first very well. It can be read without having read the first because it is it’s own story, but if you are like me you enjoy reading series books in order. It makes you want to keep reading to see what happens next. The way the author makes you want to read more is very compelling. This series is a great read!

[Mar Gin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Liked this book more than book 1. The heroine actually saves the hero a time or two. Overall solid spice (though that first sex scene took me by surprise considering the first book). I cant say any of this made me want to go on to book 3 as the idea of the "secretly strong" 3rd sister isnt appealing.

[Sara Casalino · Rating 2 out of 5]

Things I liked:
funny banter,
it was also funny how the two main characters had different ideas about how to fend off mercenaries and thus were uncoordinated in their efforts to escape.

Things I disliked:
Colin's arrogance and sexist remarks,
he says he's noble but he's very insulting to women, not respecting their choices
he keeps wanting to "tame" Helena

[Jennifer Prescott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved the spicy dance of attraction between Helena & Colin. Helena is pretty feisty, and needs someone strong but somewhat easy going like Colin to balance out. I love the kick-arse Warrior Maids of Rivenloch! (Read as part of the "Maids with Blades Box Set")

[Rory · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was the weakest novel in the series, which is unfortunate because I liked this sister the best. There was just too much plot regurgitation of the first novel, so there was never really a climax. Basically, this novel is just filling in some holes from the first novel.

[vickieallred · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great

This book was as good as the first in the series. This is a great author. Her stories are very well thought out. They get your attention and hold it through out the telling. The characters, romance, and intrigue capture your and hold you spellbound.

[Dianne Cruce · Rating 5 out of 5]

Warrior Woman falls in love.

I loved this book. A warrior woman who finally realizes she can fall in love with someone who is as strong as she is. A lot of twists and turns to keep your interest up.

[Sandi Niemeyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kidnapping Kisses

Helena kidnaps Colin with the idea of ransoming him to prevent Pagan marrying her sister. Unfortunately a series of misadventures changes that. Those misadventures are well-written and make this story basically sing forward. Very enjoyable!

[Teshai · Rating 4 out of 5]

Helena got on my nerves. lol Great story, excitement from beginning to end.

[iDreem2 · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0 overall stars

Couple 4.0
Plot 4.0
Story 3.5
Sex 4.0
Series 4.0