Love's Captive Heart

by Phoebe Conn

Enslaved Handmaiden Finds Love and Freedom in the Viking Warrior Adventure Love's Captive Heart by Phoebe Conn

920(AD), Land of the Danes
Though she is the beloved handmaiden of Viking lord Raktor's spoiled daughter, Celiese d'Loganville is a slave in a gilded cage. When her mistress refuses to wed a man rumored to be horribly disfigured, Celiese seizes her chance for freedom—maybe even love.
Mylan Vandahl has no need of a wife who pities him. But the enchanting—and perplexing—young woman, who fears him and boldly ignores his scars, arouses a need to soothe and tenderly seduce.
But after a wedding night of unparalleled passion, the rising dawn reveals Celeise's treachery. Now in the fight of her life, for her dream of home and family, Celeise must find a way to heal Mylan's shattered trust.

Other books by Phoebe Conn
Savage Destiny
Defiant Destiny
Forbidden Destiny
Wild Destiny
Scarlet Destiny

Genres: Historical Romance, Romance

443 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 26, 2017

About the author

Phoebe 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.

Reviews

[Deb · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 1/2 stars ⭐️

I don’t know where to start with this book. I don’t think I’ve come across two characters who have frustrated me more than Mylan and Celiese. Both strong willed, stubborn and to proud for their own good. This story will take you on an adventure, but the stupidity that the author keeps inflicting on the two main characters, in regard to their constant bickering after they have just had sex, again, really gets annoying. They do eventually find their HEA, but geez, love isn’t supposed to be this hard.

[Space Cowgirl · Rating 3 out of 5]

Arguments Abound!💕💔💘

ADULT Historical Viking Romance💕 and Adventure🐺💪🔪.
920 AD Danish Europe.
In this long conflicted novel of supposed Viking🐺💪🔪 occupation, arguments abound throughout the book between the two main characters, Mylan🐺🍆⛲💪🔪 and his slave/ bride Celiese.
I took exception to the world building of the book, which has the Vikings🐺💪🔪 living in basically castles 🏰, which were unknown at The time of Viking raids.

I really enjoyed the story but it is historically inaccurate. If you can overlook that and the constant arguments😠 and perceived slights between the main characters,, you will enjoy the book too.

[Emiliya Bozhilova · Rating 2 out of 5]

The author’s cut robbed the whole drama. Read the original.

[Margaret Watkins · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book had so much potential with a basic plot that could have been richly embroidered, however it fell sadly short of the mark. As a noble lady in captivity, Celiese was abused, misused and mistrusted, then hung out to dry! The fact that her captors used her as bait was one thing, but that the man who married her chose not to try to understand her situation, was really sad. I found the constant bickering, insults and abuse hard to tolerate but continued reading, hoping that the story would redeem itself. It did to some extent in the last chapter but as a reader I found it too little, too late. I cannot accept that a nation of people who had the ability to build magnificent sailing ships for their times, who conquered and settled new lands and went where no men had gone before, could jump to conclusions and be as small minded as portrayed in this book, especially as it was 920 AD and not BC. I do hope that the author takes another look at this book and rewrites it, taking into account the history of the times and to major more on building relationships than petty jealousies. I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily post this review. This is my honest review.

[Sandee · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an interesting book in that it tried to portray the time and world of the Vikings and what was happening in France. I like the potential for stories and adventures in this world. I also liked some of the characters. It was unfortunate that the author chose to make most of the secondary characters evil, mean or spoiled. She has the ability to bring her characters to life and I would have enjoyed seeing one or two good relationships. The main characters are sweet, but I thought their actions and personalities much more suited to a YA genre than a historical romance. Both main characters were very immature, and the misunderstandings and complaints tested my patience to keep reading the book. Then they both have epiphanies right at the end of the book to achieve their HEA. I thought both characters had so much more to contribute to the story. Adventures and challenges to living in that time could have replaced much of the repetition and resulted in a 5-star read. I will likely try more books by this author in hopes of that growth.

[Yvonne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Celiese d'Loganville was captured when she was young and became the handmaiden to her captors Lord Raktor's daughter. She stayed out of sight of the rest of the family because the Vikings she knew were violent and kidnapped people as well as more brutal stuff. Mylan Vandahl is a Viking from another area that has not been seen in a few years and they are to wed Lord Raktors daughter to him. But they have a plan of deceit instead that Celiese is not involved in. Of course it all goes wrong. The book if full of adventures that are interesting to read just be prepaiired to be angry at several of the “good guys” for being idiots. I would have given the book 4 stars but I had issues with Mylan always distrusting Celiese even after his brothers trusted her. I also had a huge issue with the family loving Lord Raktor's daughter Olgrethe when she was there even though they distrusted Celiese because she was "from" that same family. Nobody ever really stopped to find out her back ground even when Mylan found out where she was from and what family he did not believe it until way past her old servants showing up and recognizing her.
I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review. The opinions in this review are 100% my own

[Angelica · Rating 3 out of 5]

Where to begin? First off this book did keep me up at night so props to the author for that. I enjoyed the plot and writing style of the author. She truly created a wonderful world that captured me and although i would be willing to read another of her books i must admit there were faults that almost had me abandoning the story all together. The heroine was incredibly admirable i loved her fire to always keep her head up but that same independence frustrated me towards the 2nd half of the book. She had convinced herself of a lie when the truth was very obvious and created unnecessary and frankly exhausting drama. The hero was a total jerk for most of the story which made me wonder what she fell in love with to begin with. Towards the end around the time where the heroine became annoying he finally developed some sense. Unfortunately it was too late and he couldnt redeem himself in my eyes. I did at first like the clash of fire between them however it almost always ended the same way and created an endless cycle that became very annoying. I love enemy into lovers stories but this was too much. Overall i would not recommend this book simply because of how annoying it can become. I still give it 3 stars because it did capture me, the plot had steady movement and excitement and any book that keeps me awake no matter how frustrating deserves its respect ☺ i look forward to reading this author again but hopefully i would fall more in love with the main characters.

[Maria Dariotis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one sensational roller coaster ride! So much emotion lots of action, I coundt put it down.

Celiese d’Loganville has been captured by lord Raktor a Viking at the age of twelve, raped by her captor and his sons she watched her family brutally mudered. She’s given as a handmaiden to his daughter Olgrethe.
Olgrethe is offered in marriage to the Vandahls to bring peace to the feuding families. Olgrethe has no desire to become the wife to a man that has been mauled beyond recognition. Switching places with Celiese is the only way out for her. Celine’s life takes an unexpected twist from slave to marriage with Mylan to running for her life. Her journey to be free will bring her danger peril and a love so great that will defy the bonds of time.

This was a well written book that is captivating, entertaining, and intriguing characters. Phoebe Conn delivers a PHENOMENAL story. I will definitely be looking for more of her stories.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from EBook Discovery for my honest unbiased opinion.

[Maysa · Rating 2 out of 5]

The type of romance that relies on miscommunication for drama

This is the type of romance that relies on miscommunication for drama. Even though there was plenty of drama external to the relationship they exacerbated everything by not talking.
Then compounded that mistake by making idiotic decisions that had me frustrated at both characters.
It's a very "flowery" romance, lots of "lissome young body", "honey-sweet lips", and endless stupid arguments abandoned to get "lost in love's embrace".

Celiese is young (17), beautiful and stupid. Mylan is much older (28), handsome and stupid. They deserve one another.

Not so bad I couldn't finish it but bad enough that I don't recommend it (unless you like this sort of thing).

[Virginia Tican · Rating 4 out of 5]

Had quite a time finishing this, yet still and all, I like the author's style of writing. Her love scenes are also beautifully described in a poetic turn of prose. Not the common Viking~female captive Romance if only because of the author's writing style. I would have liked to know about Raktor's gruesome end and what will happen when Maylan/Michael reunites with his parents with what his father planned for Celiese (hanging between them) in revenge of Raktor's sudden attack on the Vandahls' own home the night of the marriage festivities, as if the poor girl had any say on what her master was planning when she herself was a slave and at the mercy of her captor, Raktor.

[Bigbear Woolliscroft · Rating 4 out of 5]

A love story set in the Viking Period. I would call it historic romance, but this is more substantial than many recent examples of the genre, that don't give themselves enough room for the characterization of the heroes. While set in a distinct historic event (920AD, the settlement of Normandie) the novel is not dominated by historic details, but by the internal monologues of the two leads, and the way their resulting actions get completely misunderstood, which sustains the book in a good way, and does not turn into slapstick. Really enjoyed it.

I received this book for free from eBook Discovery. I voluntarily review this book. This is my honest review

[Cindy C. · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gripping and Suspenseful! Soooo many emotions swirl through you as you read Love's Captive Heart Phoebe Conn weaves a story from beginning to end with threads of intrigue, conflicts, stubbornness, misunderstandings and treachery that will hold you spellbound from the moment you begin the journey with Celiese and Mylan until the very end! It's a heart-stopping story that is filled with tension-building twist and turns, a story filled with characters that come off the pages and pulls you into their tale, that is smoothly written, with a superb plott, and passion.

[Erin · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

The premise of this book is good and it had a lot of potential, but the miscommunication and misunderstandings in this book are some of the worst ive read. The MCs didnt understand or trust eachother until the last 6 (?) percent of the book. The rest of the book they were fighting and arguing and saying the meanest things just to hurt the other.

[S. · Rating 1 out of 5]

The plot had so much potential, but the writing fell short. I tried to push through, but the transitions were too choppy and awkward. There are so many great books out there to read that I didn't want to waste my time on this one.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was enthralled from start to finish. I both wanted to hug and hit Ceilease and Mylan. I received a copy of this book from eBook Discovery. I am voluntarily posting this review. This is my honest review.

[Annette · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVES CAPTIVE HEART: is a very good read. The story moves quickly and there is much insight into the time of the Vikings. MYLAN a Danish Warlord is duped into marrying a French slave, CERAISE. The story is fraught with misunderstandings between the two, love prevails, happily ever after.

[jennifer r jackson · Rating 1 out of 5]

I wish I could give this book zero stars

I’ve never left a review of a book before but this book was so bad I had to.
I thoroughly HATED the man
Totally frustrated with the woman
Do not read this book
It was a total waste of my time

[Kassy · Rating 2 out of 5]

I loved the story idea but the plot and it's execution was bad, it got frustrating at a point