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Defiant Captive
Book by Kathy Jones
Paperback
First published November 1, 1987
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May 23, 2017I bought this misogynistic and tawdry "romance" novel at the drugstore back in junior high, and recently fount it in a long-forgotten box in an attic. Luckily it did not traumatize me during my impressionable teen years.
The first few chapters contain a non-consensual "love scene" between a privateer and a woman kidnapped and sold into slavery. My objection is not to the portrayal of events that have happened and still happen today (kidnap, trafficking), but to the supposed reality that being a slave is somehow sexy and romantic. People are free to craft their own romantic fantasies and novels, but I pass. Rating: 0.
The first few chapters contain a non-consensual "love scene" between a privateer and a woman kidnapped and sold into slavery. My objection is not to the portrayal of events that have happened and still happen today (kidnap, trafficking), but to the supposed reality that being a slave is somehow sexy and romantic. People are free to craft their own romantic fantasies and novels, but I pass. Rating: 0.
June 19, 2023
On a recent quest for vintage romance, I picked up Defiant Captive and I’m so glad I did!
I guess it depends on what you are after, but this book struck all the high notes I was looking for in a semi smutty, romper stomper historical romance. I’d venture to say it will actually be a hard act to follow.
Kathleen has been sold into slavery after a series of kidnappings for ransom in the trade of a horse for herself. Kade sees her in the slave market and buys her immediately.
The first part of the book is a series of moments where she hates him, he can’t stand her, and yes, the first consummation is forced which was a trope in the 80’s because of course, women can’t just enjoy sex. A large portion of the book after their first encounter is our heroine refusing to give in to our hero, and our hero slowly wooing her into desire. I enjoyed this approach - she dreams about him but is actually acting it out (corny I know) but he resolves that the next time they are together she will be begging for it. Hubba hubba.
The authors does a fantastic job of making Kade seem really hot. He’s a tall, dark, handsome drink of water. He’s definitely alpha in the best ways (he’s traveled the world, he’s been a pirate, now he’s a shipping magnate, he owns an island, and often is willing to teach our heroine all sorts of interesting things, even so far as to teach her how to navigate and sail so she can someday escape him and head back to her beloved Ireland. He knows this of course, and still teaches her which is sexy and confident.
The author did a great job of our hero’s dialogue- I don’t see any stupidity and never felt frustrated by him. He was actually even pretty funny. For example, during a hurricane when she finally gives full consent, our hero, exhausted and spent, says “Damn”
Our heroine asks “was I not any good?” At which point our hero says “You were absolutely terrible”.
The author has our hero there in the nick of time each and every time our heroine needs saving. Hurricane? Here comes Kade to the rescue. Lost at sea? Hello Kade! About to get raped, imprisoned, Kade to the rescue.
I found myself really rooting for this couple and not putting the book down.
Our heroine is slightly more exasperating. First, she is too young which feels icky and I found myself pushing it out of my head and pretending to myself that was 23, not 17.
Secondly, she is solely focused on getting back to Ireland which makes up a bulk of the book but the author does a good job of not making her too much of a damsel in distress. She’s good on a horse, good with a knife and just stubborn enough to make it through many a predicament with Kade bailing her out when the pressure is really on.
The sex is steamy but what I loved most about it were the unelevated terms for it all. It wasn’t like reading a text book about sex, it also wasn’t silly sex with moonbeams and rainbow fireworks. It was just good sex. Although the cave bit seemed like it would be a bit uncomfortable.
There are several foils and anti-heroes to keep it interesting and the story winds through Morocco, the West Indies and then back to the UK.
But in the end, the hero is what makes this book and I find that might make for the best reading.
I guess it depends on what you are after, but this book struck all the high notes I was looking for in a semi smutty, romper stomper historical romance. I’d venture to say it will actually be a hard act to follow.
Kathleen has been sold into slavery after a series of kidnappings for ransom in the trade of a horse for herself. Kade sees her in the slave market and buys her immediately.
The first part of the book is a series of moments where she hates him, he can’t stand her, and yes, the first consummation is forced which was a trope in the 80’s because of course, women can’t just enjoy sex. A large portion of the book after their first encounter is our heroine refusing to give in to our hero, and our hero slowly wooing her into desire. I enjoyed this approach - she dreams about him but is actually acting it out (corny I know) but he resolves that the next time they are together she will be begging for it. Hubba hubba.
The authors does a fantastic job of making Kade seem really hot. He’s a tall, dark, handsome drink of water. He’s definitely alpha in the best ways (he’s traveled the world, he’s been a pirate, now he’s a shipping magnate, he owns an island, and often is willing to teach our heroine all sorts of interesting things, even so far as to teach her how to navigate and sail so she can someday escape him and head back to her beloved Ireland. He knows this of course, and still teaches her which is sexy and confident.
The author did a great job of our hero’s dialogue- I don’t see any stupidity and never felt frustrated by him. He was actually even pretty funny. For example, during a hurricane when she finally gives full consent, our hero, exhausted and spent, says “Damn”
Our heroine asks “was I not any good?” At which point our hero says “You were absolutely terrible”.
The author has our hero there in the nick of time each and every time our heroine needs saving. Hurricane? Here comes Kade to the rescue. Lost at sea? Hello Kade! About to get raped, imprisoned, Kade to the rescue.
I found myself really rooting for this couple and not putting the book down.
Our heroine is slightly more exasperating. First, she is too young which feels icky and I found myself pushing it out of my head and pretending to myself that was 23, not 17.
Secondly, she is solely focused on getting back to Ireland which makes up a bulk of the book but the author does a good job of not making her too much of a damsel in distress. She’s good on a horse, good with a knife and just stubborn enough to make it through many a predicament with Kade bailing her out when the pressure is really on.
The sex is steamy but what I loved most about it were the unelevated terms for it all. It wasn’t like reading a text book about sex, it also wasn’t silly sex with moonbeams and rainbow fireworks. It was just good sex. Although the cave bit seemed like it would be a bit uncomfortable.
There are several foils and anti-heroes to keep it interesting and the story winds through Morocco, the West Indies and then back to the UK.
But in the end, the hero is what makes this book and I find that might make for the best reading.
April 13, 2016
This story started out good. Seventeen year old Kathleen was kidnapped and held for ransom. It was orchestrated by Quint Cathcart. He wants to buy her Arabian horse, Taran, but her father won't sell it. He and his men go there to steal the horse but can't find it, so they kidnap Kathleen instead and plan to hold her for ransom in exchange for her horse. Right before she's kidnapped, they burn her home to the ground and her mother dies in it. The ransom note they send to her father is accidentaly sent to her neighbor, Silas Pennington.
Her kidnapper, Quint, is angry about something so he sells her at auction. Thirty-five year old Scotsman Captain Kade Morgan buys her with the intention of sending her back to wherever she came from. She's held prisoner on his ship and Kade, in true bodice ripper fashion, treats her badly. The first sex scene is what I'd call forced seduction. All the sex scenes with them are spicy.
Her kidnapper, Quint, is angry about something so he sells her at auction. Thirty-five year old Scotsman Captain Kade Morgan buys her with the intention of sending her back to wherever she came from. She's held prisoner on his ship and Kade, in true bodice ripper fashion, treats her badly. The first sex scene is what I'd call forced seduction. All the sex scenes with them are spicy.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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