Her Noble Captive

The Captivating Debutantes #3

by Emily Windsor

An alternative cover edition for this ASIN can be found here.


"She fell to the floor like some swoony damsel confronted by a wolf." - Major Lucas Mainwaring.
A lady fainting at the sight of him was seldom an auspicious start for Lucas, self-admitted wreck and reluctant Earl of Helmdon.
"I thought he was someone else." - Miss Rosalind Trewent.
That was her excuse for the incident and she was sticking to it. She could hardly tell him the truth...

Former spy, Lucas Mainwaring, is a man scarred in body and mind. Convinced no woman would ever want him, he now devotes his life to medicine, but a plea from an old friend draws him to Cheshire and the hunt for a murderer.

As the bitter winter of 1813 descends, the last thing he expects is a reunion with the irrepressible Miss Trewent.

Rosalind is not the swoony type, a painful past having stiffened her spine to iron. Now living under the guardianship of her cousin, she fills Stonebridge Hall with colour, laughter and language not approved of in Miss Pikesworth's Guide to Etiquette... But with the arrival of Lucas Mainwaring, she learns the past can never be hidden for long.

"Is nobody as they seem?" - The Earl of Stonebridge.
An idyllic snow-bound village is not always as it appears and when Lucas delves deeper, he discovers murky secrets, veiled passions, lust he thought he could never feel...and a love that began many years before.


A Sensual Regency Romance with warmth and wit.


This title is also available as part of the Captivating Debutantes Box Set or can be read as a standalone story.
Please note this book contains scenes of a sensual nature.

Genres: Historical Romance, Historical, Romance, Mystery, Historical Fiction

351 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 23, 2017

About the author

Emily grew up in the north of England on a diet of historical romance and strong tea.

Unfortunately, you couldn’t study Regency slang, so she did the next best thing and gained a degree in Classics and History instead. This ‘led’ to an eight-year stint in engineering.

Having left city life, she now lives in a dilapidated farmhouse where her days are spent writing, fixing the leaky roof, battling the endless vegetation and finding pictures of well-tied cravats.

For details of new releases or to get in touch, find Emily on:

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Or become a 'Lady of Windsor' and sign up for Emily's newsletter: http://eepurl.com/gehNKr

Reviews

[Jultri · Rating 3 out of 5]

The title is completely misleading because no one was holding anyone captive, not that I was lured by the thought of someone in captivity although it might have provided more entertainment than this. It wasn’t bad. It was just okay. I was hoping for some angst, what with a tortured, scarred ex-military man and a woman with plenty of internal scars underneath her cheerful disposition. The author failed to move me. The characters were appealing enough. I actually enjoyed the supporting characters possibly more than the main ones. The heroine’s interactions with her cousin were humorous as well as sweetly affectionate. Wish she had that kind of relationship with the hero.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

1.5 stars. Maybe Emily Windsor's novellas aren't for me. This one was a little slow with too many secrets. Keeping secrets, avoiding divulging said secrets, and MCs taking turns pushing each other away when same secrets were divulged all bored me. I think it's a "me, not the story" thing. The writing was engaging enough, but the content itself was dull. I also completely forgot that there was a mystery to solve until it was solved. Oops.

I did like the MCs. Both of them overcame some very difficult circumstances and were worth admiring. I wish I liked this story more, I really do.

[HR-ML · Rating 3 out of 5]

Regency mystery romance. 3 women in the story
summarized past abuse. Thankfully no flashbacks.
MCs had sex.

This featured celibate Luke, former Army intel man &
current surgeon & earl and Rosiland who's secret past
encroached on her current life. Luke had visible & in-
visible scars. Rosa lived with her guarded male cous
Benjamin, also an earl, who had a secret love.

I liked the MCs but the story seemed too angsty & had
too many plots and sub-plots. Ben received pressure
from the War Office chief & his bestie to investigate 2
murders in Cheshire, where Rosa and Ben resided.

[Alvina · Rating 4 out of 5]

TW: violence against women, institutionalization

The main couple has amazing chemistry, you can completely understand their love for each other. The only reason this isnt five stars is because I’ve only read it once (so not a beloved reread) and I feel like it dragged a bit toward the end.

But man, what a story! All the elements of an Agatha Christie while cloaked in modern historical romance writing. I throughly enjoyed reading this whodunnit.

[Amelia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another terrific read by Windsor. Lucas Mainwaring, scarred by fire in France from his government work, has inherited an earldom he’s ambivalent about and learned the skills of a surgeon. Asked to investigate the murders of two young women in the north, Lucas encounters a spirited young redheaded woman, the ward and cousin of Benedict, the earl who owned the land where the bodies were found. Rosalind is shocked to see Lucas who she had met as a child, when they were briefly thrown together at a party because they were both being punished. Lucas had comforted her then after learning of her father’s abuse, and his attempts to follow up on her welfare thwarted as her father reported her dead while he had committed her to an asylum because he thought her prophetic dreams were a sign of evil. Lucas and Rosalind warily edge together while trying to solve the crime both afraid their damaged pasts (Lucas’s scarred body and dark history with laudanum and Rosalind’s time in the asylum and fear that her second sight will be seen as a curse.) Will definitely finish this series which intertwines with Rules of the Rogue series.

[ElisaEma · Rating 4 out of 5]

I truly have enjoyed reading this romantic historical suspense novel and loved Emily Windsor's writing style and her play on words. The usage of literary expressions from the time made the reading engaging and fun (As a languages teacher it's up my alley) and enriched all the characters in the story. Major Lucas Mainwaring, Miss Rosalind Trewent, and the Earl of Stonebridge are all involved in solving a string of murders against young women in the English countryside.
The mystery really attracted me to this story because I enjoy reading thrillers and crime as well but the love story between Lucas and Rosalind holds its own as they come together despite their individual traumas from their past. I highly recommend this story if you enjoy a proper English historical romance with a dash of mystery and suspense!

[Gloria · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Windsor has a “captivating” writing style: it’s lively and laced with humor. The hero and heroine of this book have interesting and sympathetic back stories and their feelings develop believably. Loved the secondary story of Stonebridge’s yearning for the erstwhile Daphne. I was enthralled in this book until my least favorite romance plot device happens: one character decides for another character what they feel and what would be better for his or her life, and the result is always lame. It’s a lazy tool for lengthening a story and frustrates the reader. Throw in a cartoon-character villain at the end and I had to knock off a star from what had been 5-star enjoyment.

[Pansy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bonus info

Learning Rosie's story was . . . Several words come ro mind. Harrowing. Distressing. Heartbreaking. Inspiring. Having read a bit about this amazing couple in Christmas with a Rogue where Lily found her happy-ever-after, piqued my interest. This is the story I have been looking for. It was a bonus that I got a greater background of Lily and her 'list' as well. *sigh* Very nice mix of romance and suspense.

[Tracey Steeves · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed this story! Both the hero and heroine were likable, though flawed. Both thought they had issues that could not be overcome. But overcome they did! I confess I read Emily Windsor's "Rules of the Rogue Series" before this one so I already knew they had achieved their "happily ever after". If you haven't read the "Rules of the Rogue Series" you are in for a treat. The second book in that series continues Lily Mereworth's story. Another great read by this author.

[Leo1962 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her Noble Captive

I had read Merry Christmas, My Viscount first (out of order) and enjoyed the dialogue and story and so went searching other stories.

I lived the character in this book and the story was well done. I laughed out loud and the repartee between characters (not just the H and H) was bang on.

Off to read others in the Debutantes series!

[leidy chavez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love

I loved this one as well as all the others I have read. And oh is so funny, specially the part where he (Lucas) is foxed and cannot express that his life is foggy without Rosalind’s 😆just funny

[Diane Pope · Rating 5 out of 5]

Roses are red.

I kept trying to solve the mystery. The little clues made me think I knew who done it only to be mistaken. I loved the characters. Lucas and Rosalind were perfect for each other. They erased each others sadness.

[JTot · Rating 5 out of 5]

2nd time

I have now read it twice. I have read many, many Regency romances. It is one of my favorites. It is not “clean,” but it is not that shallow sexy that drives me crazy. What makes the difference: unique characters, well written dialogue and a decent mystery.

[Laura J. · Rating 5 out of 5]

a lovely, witty romance

Both the hero and the heroine have overcome horrors in their past and are keeping secrets. There’s also interesting secondary characters, a killer stalking women and the need for a good dictionary!

[Aj · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable and sensual romance. I love a scarred hero, this story didn't disappoint with also multiple murder mystery to solve. I liked the slow burn chemistry between Lucas and Rosalind. They both have painful pasts and their journey towards their happily ever after is a very deserving one.

[Maria · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars.

[Tom Prejsner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Romance novels

Thank you for these wonderful romance novels series books. Please keep writing more books. Would read all day. Thank you

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Noble

Excellent read. Both the characters and plot are well developed. Sorry note of history and how easy it was to commit people to an asylum.

[P Sanchez · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved reading these stories... Lovers and villians. Waiting not so patiently for the new release.

[Mrs. Burrows · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it

These characters are the most interesting two I have read in some time. Both are complex and enduring. An absolute pleasure to read!

[Maddie · Rating 4 out of 5]

He’s literally a man in love and she is literally someone who survived a mental asylum. I love it.

[Mary Hart · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Good story...the heroine is psychic and as a child gave the hero advice to save his life. The hero doesn't recognise her but is intrigued by her. Good story

[Kath · Rating 5 out of 5]

5+* from me, a thrilling story of secrets, lies, murder and verbal mayhem. How I loved Rosalind she was a breath of fresh air, she had a brutal childhood but her light still shone from within. Thank goodness for Benedict, loved their banter a better brother she could not have had.
Then there was the hero and my word a true hero he was, Major Lucas Mainwaring had been terribly injured during the war leaving him with both invisible and visible scars. On a mission for a friend to investigate two murders he goes to stay with Benedict and the story begins. Lots of twists and turns and once again I pegged the wrong villain - however had lots of laughs a long the way to discovering the real culprit.

Thoroughly enjoyed and highly recommend these entertaining reads.

[Lucina]

DNF

The blurb sounded more interesting than the story actually was. I expected Rosalind and Lucas to have a past that was just more than one meeting. "a love that began many years before" sounds like they were childhood sweethearts, but they met when they were children and they didn't fall in love or anything.

[Melissa Polk · Rating 5 out of 5]

My heart absolutely melted reading this book. Rosalind is the best and I would face demons for her. And Lucas--I mean, come on. He's in almost all the other books and we all know he's a teddy bear. Was delighted to see Lily. Am wondering if there's some secret order I ought to be reading all these series in but enjoying the ride regardless!

[Kelly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Although I had a few minor quibbles, the H/h were among my favorites and the story was very good. It also hallmarks the wonderful humor and developed quirky side characters that can come out of Windsor's pen. Some of this would be perfect for script writing. ❤

[Nounsy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lucas is by far the most likable male lead in this trilogy and Rosalind is a fun leading lady. The mystery aspect of this plot was interesting independent of the romance plot. It does have more violence/disturbing content than the average period romance, but it's not overdone.

[Simo · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite of the series, really liked both H and h