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Devil Riders #2
His Captive Lady
No one can resist the Devil Riders: four war heroes in search of one good woman. Harry Morant's tough exterior hides a badly scarred heart. The natural son of an earl, high-born ladies have only one use for him-in the bedchamber. Now, after eight years at war, Harry is breeding racehorses and planning a practical, unemotional marriage. But when he buys a new estate, his careful plans are threatened by an unexpected passion for- of all things-an earl's daughter.
336 pages, ebook
First published January 1, 2008
121 people are currently reading
1173 people want to read
About the author
Anne Gracie
95 books1,536 followersI've always loved stories. Family legend has it that I used to spend hours playing in the sand pit, with a dog on either side of me and Rocka the horse leaning over me, his head just touching my shoulder, while I told them stories. I have to say, dogs and horses are great audiences, apart from their tendency to drool occasionally. But people are even nicer.
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
In case you imagine we were a filthy rich horse-owning family, let me assure you we weren't. The horse period was a time when my parents entered a "let's-be-self-sufficient" phase, so we had a horse, but no electricity and all our water came from the rain tank.
As well as the horse and dogs, we had 2 cows (Buttercup and Daisy and one of them always had a calf), a sheep (Woolly,) goats (Billy and Nanny) dozens of ducks, chooks, and a couple of geese, a pet bluetongue lizard and a huge vegie patch. I don't know how my mother managed, really, because both she and Dad taught full time, but she came home and cooked on a wood stove and did all the laundry by hand, boiling the clothes and sheets in a big copper kettle. Somehow, we were always warm, clean, well fed and happy. She's pretty amazing, my mum.
Once I learned to read, I spent my days outside playing with the animals (I include my brother and 2 sisters here) and when inside I read. For most of my childhood we didn't have TV, so books have always been a big part of my life. Luckily our house was always full of them. Travel was also a big part of my childhood. My parents had itchy feet. We spent a lot of time driving from one part of Australia to another, visiting relatives or friends or simply to see what was there. I've lived in Scotland, Malaysia and Greece. We travelled through Europe in a caravan and I'd swum most of the famous rivers in Europe by the time I was eight.
This is me and my classmates in Scotland. I am in the second front row, in the middle, to the right of the girl in the dark tunic.
Sounds like I was raised by gypsies, doesn't it? I was even almost born in a tent --Mum, Dad and 3 children were camping and one day mum left the tent and went to hospital to have me. But in fact we are a family of chalkies (Australian slang for teachers)- and Dad was a school principal during most of my life. And I am an expert in being "the new girl" having been to 6 different schools in 12 years.The last 4 years, however, were in the same high school and I still have my 2 best friends from that time.
No matter where I lived, I read. I devoured whatever I could get my hands on -- old Enid Blyton and Mary Grant Bruce books, old schoolboys annuals. I learned history by reading Rosemary Sutcliffe, Henry Treece and Georgette Heyer. I loved animal books -- Elyne Mitchell's Silver Brumby books and Mary Patchett and Finn the Wolf Hound. And then I read Jane Austen and Dickens and Mary Stewart and Richard Llewellyn and Virginia Woolf and EF Benson and Dick Francis and David Malouf and Patrick White and Doris Lessing and PD James and...the list is never ending.
This is me posing shamelessly on a glacier in New Zealand.
This is me in Greece with my good friend Fay in our village outfits. The film went a funny colour, but you get the idea. I'm the one in the pink apron.
I escaped from my parents, settled down and went to university.To my amazement I became a chalkie myself and found a lot of pleasure in working with teenagers and later, adults. I taught English and worked as a counsellor and helped put on plays and concerts and supervised camps and encouraged other people to write but never did much myself. It took a year of backpacking around the world to find that my early desire to write hadn't left me, it had just got buried under a busy and demanding job.
I wrote my first novel on notebooks bought in Quebec, Spain, Greece and Indonesia. That story never made it out of the notebooks, but I'd been bitten by the writing bug.
My friends and I formed a band called Platform Souls a
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 162 reviews
August 31, 2008
Reviewed for queuemyreview.com; book release Sep08
I can’t imagine the heartbreak of losing a child. Maybe it would be more accurate to say I don’t even want to try because it would be too painful. If there could be degrees of such pain, would it be ‘more so’ if the child were taken and disappeared? I’m not about to debate this subject, but this very moving book made me think about what I would do, and what I would be willing to do, if such a horrendous thing happened. Even so, I loved every minute of “His Captive Lady” by Anne Gracie. She is one of the few authors I think could have successfully pulled off using the above scenario in a sweet and sexy love story without minimizing or dramatizing the situation.
Lady Helen is the daughter of an earl. Her father gambled away everything and died in debt so now she’s destitute and homeless. But even worse, before he died her father stole her newborn infant in a misguided attempt to atone for not protecting Helen from the man who raped her. Now the ONLY thing that matters to Helen is finding her child and she will do whatever is necessary to get her back.
Harry is the ‘natural’ child of an earl, but he learned his lesson early in life about what being a bastard means. Harry’s looks have always provided him an entrée into the beds of the bored ladies of the ton. These highborn women are happy to sleep with him, but won’t acknowledge him in any other way. Harry’s brother and friends are the only ‘family’ Harry ever really knew and that’s fine with him. Now that it’s time for him to take a wife, Harry has decided to select a wife with the qualities he wants; just like he would in the horses he breeds. Then he meets Lady Helen, and suddenly no one else will do.
There’s so much more to the plot that I just didn’t want to give away. Why does Harry feel he needs to ‘earn’ love? Why does Nell lock herself in her room at night (and it’s not the reason you think)? And if you read the first book in this series, “The Stolen Princess”, what is going on with Ethan and Tibby?
I’m so impressed with the way this author treats Nell’s anguish. It’s what the entire story is built around, yet it doesn’t make the book too sad to read. It becomes more of a celebration of a mother’s love for her child regardless of the circumstances of conception. The secondary love story that was only hinted at in “The Stolen Princess” culminates in this book, yet this is very much a stand alone read. The characters became real to me and I wanted to help in their search for the child. I identified with Nell’s sorrow and Harry’s determination. The growth of their relationship was exactly right, not too fast, not too slow; the strengths and weaknesses of each part of the mystery of how love makes us stronger together. “His Captive Lady” by Anne Gracie made me cry, and then it made me laugh and smile. And even the ending, although at first seeming miraculous, at second glance really and truly made sense. Now I’ll wait, impatiently, for the next book in the series to be released in ‘fall 2009’. The more I read by this author, the bigger of a fan I become…how cool is that?
Til next time
JJ
I can’t imagine the heartbreak of losing a child. Maybe it would be more accurate to say I don’t even want to try because it would be too painful. If there could be degrees of such pain, would it be ‘more so’ if the child were taken and disappeared? I’m not about to debate this subject, but this very moving book made me think about what I would do, and what I would be willing to do, if such a horrendous thing happened. Even so, I loved every minute of “His Captive Lady” by Anne Gracie. She is one of the few authors I think could have successfully pulled off using the above scenario in a sweet and sexy love story without minimizing or dramatizing the situation.
Lady Helen is the daughter of an earl. Her father gambled away everything and died in debt so now she’s destitute and homeless. But even worse, before he died her father stole her newborn infant in a misguided attempt to atone for not protecting Helen from the man who raped her. Now the ONLY thing that matters to Helen is finding her child and she will do whatever is necessary to get her back.
Harry is the ‘natural’ child of an earl, but he learned his lesson early in life about what being a bastard means. Harry’s looks have always provided him an entrée into the beds of the bored ladies of the ton. These highborn women are happy to sleep with him, but won’t acknowledge him in any other way. Harry’s brother and friends are the only ‘family’ Harry ever really knew and that’s fine with him. Now that it’s time for him to take a wife, Harry has decided to select a wife with the qualities he wants; just like he would in the horses he breeds. Then he meets Lady Helen, and suddenly no one else will do.
There’s so much more to the plot that I just didn’t want to give away. Why does Harry feel he needs to ‘earn’ love? Why does Nell lock herself in her room at night (and it’s not the reason you think)? And if you read the first book in this series, “The Stolen Princess”, what is going on with Ethan and Tibby?
I’m so impressed with the way this author treats Nell’s anguish. It’s what the entire story is built around, yet it doesn’t make the book too sad to read. It becomes more of a celebration of a mother’s love for her child regardless of the circumstances of conception. The secondary love story that was only hinted at in “The Stolen Princess” culminates in this book, yet this is very much a stand alone read. The characters became real to me and I wanted to help in their search for the child. I identified with Nell’s sorrow and Harry’s determination. The growth of their relationship was exactly right, not too fast, not too slow; the strengths and weaknesses of each part of the mystery of how love makes us stronger together. “His Captive Lady” by Anne Gracie made me cry, and then it made me laugh and smile. And even the ending, although at first seeming miraculous, at second glance really and truly made sense. Now I’ll wait, impatiently, for the next book in the series to be released in ‘fall 2009’. The more I read by this author, the bigger of a fan I become…how cool is that?
Til next time
JJ
August 13, 2010
This was a very uneven read to me. What I liked, I loved; what I disliked, I loathed. All things considered, 3 stars is what I came up with in the end.
I adored Harry and Nell. He was a great hero: sweet, understanding, helpful, protective and, yes, passionate. His feelings for Nell never wavered through the story, not even when she revealed her "sordid" past to him. On her part, she was a great heroine too but I admit it took me some time to believe that she she wasn't with Harry only out of gratitude. I believed she loved him in the end, but I didn't like how the story ended with Harry still believing he wouldn't be worthy of loving her if he hadn't "fulfilled his promise" (I can't say anything else, but those who read the book will understand what I'm saying.)
I hated the secondary romance featuring Ethan, Harry's friend, and Tibby, Harry's sister-in-law's friend. It had nothing to do with the main plot and it was annoyingly distracting, interrumpting the natural pace of Harry and Nell's story. I don't mind secondary romances if they're connected to the primary romance. Sadly, this wasn't the case here. I started skimming through Ethan's and Tibby's scenes as soon as I realized they had nothing to do with the main plot. Seriously, one could delete all the scenes about them and no editing would be necessary to "adjust" the remaining pages.
As for the story - the one about Harry and Nell, that is -, it was good but not great. It was very emotional and heartbreaking, but some passages were boring and sluggish. I couldn't stand following Harry and Nell in their "quest" all over London. Call me callous, but I wanted it to be over so Nell could finally let herself love Harry.
All things considered, this could have been a great read - if only Ms. Gracie didn't feel the need to include the secondary romance.
I adored Harry and Nell. He was a great hero: sweet, understanding, helpful, protective and, yes, passionate. His feelings for Nell never wavered through the story, not even when she revealed her "sordid" past to him. On her part, she was a great heroine too but I admit it took me some time to believe that she she wasn't with Harry only out of gratitude. I believed she loved him in the end, but I didn't like how the story ended with Harry still believing he wouldn't be worthy of loving her if he hadn't "fulfilled his promise" (I can't say anything else, but those who read the book will understand what I'm saying.)
I hated the secondary romance featuring Ethan, Harry's friend, and Tibby, Harry's sister-in-law's friend. It had nothing to do with the main plot and it was annoyingly distracting, interrumpting the natural pace of Harry and Nell's story. I don't mind secondary romances if they're connected to the primary romance. Sadly, this wasn't the case here. I started skimming through Ethan's and Tibby's scenes as soon as I realized they had nothing to do with the main plot. Seriously, one could delete all the scenes about them and no editing would be necessary to "adjust" the remaining pages.
As for the story - the one about Harry and Nell, that is -, it was good but not great. It was very emotional and heartbreaking, but some passages were boring and sluggish. I couldn't stand following Harry and Nell in their "quest" all over London. Call me callous, but I wanted it to be over so Nell could finally let herself love Harry.
All things considered, this could have been a great read - if only Ms. Gracie didn't feel the need to include the secondary romance.
March 19, 2009
Wonderful! My first by Anne Gracie, and I'll read more. I couldn't put this one down. (Seriously, I left work early and cancelled a dinner plan to finish this one.) I can't believe I haven't read this author before as her writing style is awesome. This story is an emotional story with both sad and happy tears, so beware. Fans of historical regency romances will love this one as it goes for the heart.
December 26, 2015
This was reassuring after the huge let-down of the first book. It was actually better than my rating is going to reflect as there's a substantial personal element to the rating.
The main protagonists are enjoyable and engaging. Harry seems like he'd be all alpha, but he turns out way more caring than you'd expect, and does so right from the start. Indeed, he's a joy to be with and even his inner turmoil and insecurities come from a care and concern for others that I found touching.
Nell is nearly as engaging. I had a bit of trouble up front because her personal situation is so overwhelming that I had a hard time getting past her inner conflict. I felt every delay in finding her baby and it made me impatient with every delay. Fortunately, Nell is as forthcoming as she can be so the tension doesn't last long between them. Which was really cool as it became something that united them and in the best ways.
My problem with the novel was how one-sided the aforementioned anachronisms were. It didn't bother me so much that the main characters had attitudes so very outside their milieu. That's not only expected with the genre (to be engaging with modern audiences) but it was absolutely necessary for this individual story to work. And since I wanted it to work, I was right there with the anachronistic attitude towards illegitimacy and sex and sexual "purity". If Gracie had kept it to the two of them I'd have been fine, even if that brought conflict or obstacles. But no, literally everybody we meet has the exact same modern, liberal attitude about bastardy, premarital sex, and what, in the period, would have been Nell's disgrace. So while I consider modern attitudes enlightened and much healthier for both individuals and society, it was gratingly out of place in a Regency setting. As an individual attitude, it worked fine. As what turned out to be a universal viewpoint, it threw me out of the story. I kept waiting for anybody to have any misgiving about the situation, but there were none—not even a token obstacle or objection that could be overcome with persistence or courage by Harry and Nell.
Anyway, it's a solid three drifting towards four as the novel goes on. The ending was fantastic and I really enjoyed Ethan and Tibby as a side-romance that alleviated some of the tension as Nell and Harry dealt with their very serious emotional roller-coaster. But that universal anachronism keeps me from rounding up for the whole, even though I enjoyed the story on a fantastical level.
A note about Steamy: Low steam with a single explicit sex scene (and maybe a half or so for assorted extra bits). This was really well-done as it exactly fit the emotional arc of the characters and was well-timed and worked to increase and illustrate their growing intimacy on emotional and relationship levels along with the physical.
The main protagonists are enjoyable and engaging. Harry seems like he'd be all alpha, but he turns out way more caring than you'd expect, and does so right from the start. Indeed, he's a joy to be with and even his inner turmoil and insecurities come from a care and concern for others that I found touching.
Nell is nearly as engaging. I had a bit of trouble up front because her personal situation is so overwhelming that I had a hard time getting past her inner conflict. I felt every delay in finding her baby and it made me impatient with every delay. Fortunately, Nell is as forthcoming as she can be so the tension doesn't last long between them. Which was really cool as it became something that united them and in the best ways.
My problem with the novel was how one-sided the aforementioned anachronisms were. It didn't bother me so much that the main characters had attitudes so very outside their milieu. That's not only expected with the genre (to be engaging with modern audiences) but it was absolutely necessary for this individual story to work. And since I wanted it to work, I was right there with the anachronistic attitude towards illegitimacy and sex and sexual "purity". If Gracie had kept it to the two of them I'd have been fine, even if that brought conflict or obstacles. But no, literally everybody we meet has the exact same modern, liberal attitude about bastardy, premarital sex, and what, in the period, would have been Nell's disgrace. So while I consider modern attitudes enlightened and much healthier for both individuals and society, it was gratingly out of place in a Regency setting. As an individual attitude, it worked fine. As what turned out to be a universal viewpoint, it threw me out of the story. I kept waiting for anybody to have any misgiving about the situation, but there were none—not even a token obstacle or objection that could be overcome with persistence or courage by Harry and Nell.
Anyway, it's a solid three drifting towards four as the novel goes on. The ending was fantastic and I really enjoyed Ethan and Tibby as a side-romance that alleviated some of the tension as Nell and Harry dealt with their very serious emotional roller-coaster. But that universal anachronism keeps me from rounding up for the whole, even though I enjoyed the story on a fantastical level.
A note about Steamy: Low steam with a single explicit sex scene (and maybe a half or so for assorted extra bits). This was really well-done as it exactly fit the emotional arc of the characters and was well-timed and worked to increase and illustrate their growing intimacy on emotional and relationship levels along with the physical.
May 6, 2016
Harry Morant is the bastard son of an earl and a maidservant. When it comes to the high-born ladies, he learned his lesson very young – they might want him in their beds, but that is all. After eight years at war, he has bought an estate on which he plans to breed racehorses. He has also asked his aunt for her help in procuring a suitable wife, one that is definitely not a high-born. But then he comes across Nell, and the instant fascination and attraction he feels for her threatens to derail all his carefully made plans. Can they have a future when she’s the daughter of an earl?
Lady Helen Freymore, Nell, has lost almost everything of importance in her life. Her father died recently, and because of all his gambling debts, all his assets had to be sold, including her only home. All she has left is the one person of importance, but who was taken from her. And she will do whatever is necessary to find this person. And nothing can come in the way of her search, especially not the very gorgeous and charming Harry.
But fate has other plans, and continues to ensure that these two crosses paths. Will Harry be able to convince Nell that the passion they have is worth fighting for?
I loved how instantly attracted Harry was to Nell, and how he just wanted to take care of her. It was sweet and very romantic. And Nell was so very admirable. I can’t even being to imagine how hard it must be to lose a child, especially after everything she endured before. The love of a mother is all powerful and all consuming, and I think the author did a brilliant job at portraying Nell’s love for her little baby.
The secondary characters were wonderful. I especially liked Harry’s friends, Rafe and Luke, and his half-brothers Gabe, Nash and Marcus. Of course Marcus was my favorite, and I really want to know more about this cold and aloof earl. And the secondary romance between Harry’s friend Ethan and his sister-in-law’s governess was awesome. I actually enjoyed their romance more than the main couples’.
I REALLY enjoyed this book. Despite several OTT moments, I still loved the plot and the characters. I can honestly say that there were some instances that normally would have irritated the hell out of me, but the author created so many feelings with the plot and the characters, that it was very easy for me to ignore the issues I had. This was a perfect blend of light, sweet and at times funny romance, with a serious undertone when it came to the plot.
April 30, 2020
10/10
Ha sido un lectura sencilla pero preciosa que me ha enganchado desde el principio hasta el final. Me han gustado mucho los protagonistas, y tambien los secundarios. Espero no tardar siglos en leer el siguiente
Ha sido un lectura sencilla pero preciosa que me ha enganchado desde el principio hasta el final. Me han gustado mucho los protagonistas, y tambien los secundarios. Espero no tardar siglos en leer el siguiente
October 1, 2012
*****************A MILLION STARS*****************************
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! It wins all my favorite shelves and pushed all my happy buttons. Started this at night - big mistake - got up and read some more, couldn't think of anything else all day - and had to finish it or I'd go crazy. Having read a few of Anne Gracie's books before - all of which I enjoyed, but not with the same addictive quality as this - I was not prepared to be totally blown away.
This shouldn't be a surprise and maybe some readers won't like this because it's a secret baby trope and there is a secondary romance. Personally, I wish every book had quality baby facetime. My heart was breaking for Nell dreaming about her baby girl, remembering how it felt when she moved in her belly and when she first held her. Those special times were so poignant and the remembrance to my own babies was almost overwhelming (my kids are big now but you never forget these things). Seriously, Ms. Gracie describes human emotions, feelings and tender moments in such a way - how can I describe it? - it's sumptuous, delicious, succulent - aaaahhh! I can't describe it because I'm not a writer and it's impossible to put these emotions into words.
And a hero like Harry - I could easily have 20 shelves just for him - this guy leaves all the other heroes out there in the dust.
There is an underlying tone of death, which while at the heart of the story, never felt overbearing. Nell suffered a lot through her life and lost many loved one; it made her such a strong woman. This was advice her friend gave her and a friend once gave me very similar advice: "Take it one day at a time, lovie. One step at a time if you have to. The living owe it to the dead to live; you owe it to your mom to live. You know she'd want it that way." Death is our greatest enemy but unfortunately one we all have to deal with; how does a mother go on after the loss of a child? Nell was truly remarkable because she pulls it together and starts to focus on her life with Harry.
Think of Lisa Kleypas meets Mary Balogh - that's what this reminded me of - tons of love, emotion, romance, sweet with a little bit of spice. I laughed, cried, and now am a very happy lady (Oh, and the title of this is great once you get the connection).
I LOVE THIS BOOK!!! It wins all my favorite shelves and pushed all my happy buttons. Started this at night - big mistake - got up and read some more, couldn't think of anything else all day - and had to finish it or I'd go crazy. Having read a few of Anne Gracie's books before - all of which I enjoyed, but not with the same addictive quality as this - I was not prepared to be totally blown away.
This shouldn't be a surprise and maybe some readers won't like this because it's a secret baby trope and there is a secondary romance. Personally, I wish every book had quality baby facetime. My heart was breaking for Nell dreaming about her baby girl, remembering how it felt when she moved in her belly and when she first held her. Those special times were so poignant and the remembrance to my own babies was almost overwhelming (my kids are big now but you never forget these things). Seriously, Ms. Gracie describes human emotions, feelings and tender moments in such a way - how can I describe it? - it's sumptuous, delicious, succulent - aaaahhh! I can't describe it because I'm not a writer and it's impossible to put these emotions into words.
And a hero like Harry - I could easily have 20 shelves just for him - this guy leaves all the other heroes out there in the dust.
There is an underlying tone of death, which while at the heart of the story, never felt overbearing. Nell suffered a lot through her life and lost many loved one; it made her such a strong woman. This was advice her friend gave her and a friend once gave me very similar advice: "Take it one day at a time, lovie. One step at a time if you have to. The living owe it to the dead to live; you owe it to your mom to live. You know she'd want it that way." Death is our greatest enemy but unfortunately one we all have to deal with; how does a mother go on after the loss of a child? Nell was truly remarkable because she pulls it together and starts to focus on her life with Harry.
Think of Lisa Kleypas meets Mary Balogh - that's what this reminded me of - tons of love, emotion, romance, sweet with a little bit of spice. I laughed, cried, and now am a very happy lady (Oh, and the title of this is great once you get the connection).
December 31, 2012
Let me first say this: I love romance novels. I scour bargain book shelves for them; they are the only reason I frequent yard sales or library bookstores. I am of a mind that plots can be simple and romance can be fantastic. They are my not-so-guilty pleasure.
This book, however, was just awful. For many reasons. First, because it tricked me into thinking that it was going to be a good book. When Nell and Harry first meet, in the rain on the road, and he gives her his hat- I was had. I was excited. This was going to be excellent! But beyond their first encounter, I found very little to make my heart thrum. The love story seemed to plot itself out by about the fifteenth page. This man was in love with this obviously plain girl for no apparent reason, and this poor plain woman was in love with this devastatingly handsome man for a very specific reason. Eventually they develop this codependent relationship where they love each other because of what the other can do for them.
Second, the writing was very repetitive. There was overtly modern phrasing used throughout that was, quite frankly, jarring. There were too many instances in which Harry "grated" out some string of words in the throws of his sexual frustration.
But probably the most frustrating aspect of this book was the rape glorification. It is difficult to go into this subject without sounding calloused and uncaring. I think that rape is a very serious thing and using it as a device to garner pity and protection from the male protagonist was not at all my cup of tea.
All in all, this was a fairly blase read. I am seeing from other reviews that I am apparently very alone in my feelings. All the same, this is not the Regency Era romance I would recommend to my friends.
This book, however, was just awful. For many reasons. First, because it tricked me into thinking that it was going to be a good book. When Nell and Harry first meet, in the rain on the road, and he gives her his hat- I was had. I was excited. This was going to be excellent! But beyond their first encounter, I found very little to make my heart thrum. The love story seemed to plot itself out by about the fifteenth page. This man was in love with this obviously plain girl for no apparent reason, and this poor plain woman was in love with this devastatingly handsome man for a very specific reason. Eventually they develop this codependent relationship where they love each other because of what the other can do for them.
Second, the writing was very repetitive. There was overtly modern phrasing used throughout that was, quite frankly, jarring. There were too many instances in which Harry "grated" out some string of words in the throws of his sexual frustration.
But probably the most frustrating aspect of this book was the rape glorification. It is difficult to go into this subject without sounding calloused and uncaring. I think that rape is a very serious thing and using it as a device to garner pity and protection from the male protagonist was not at all my cup of tea.
All in all, this was a fairly blase read. I am seeing from other reviews that I am apparently very alone in my feelings. All the same, this is not the Regency Era romance I would recommend to my friends.
January 19, 2016
4.5 stars
In this regency romance, Harry is a bastard son of an earl. He served in the Wellington army for eight years, but now the war is finally over. Having inherited some money from his late great-aunt, Harry buys the estate of Firmin Court, where he plans to breed racing horses. He also asks his aunt to find him a practical, middle-class bride. He doesn’t want love. He wants stability.
Lady Helen, Nell to her friends, grew up at Firmin Court, but her late father lost it and everything else in a game of cards before he killed himself. Now, Nell is destitute and must leave the only home she ever knew.
The two meet briefly, by accident, but Harry can’t push Nell out of his mind. Every potential bride his aunt parades before him lacks in comparison to Nell. When he sees Nell again, their encounter is unexpected and explosive, and he wouldn’t rest until she accepts his marriage proposal. Of course, he doesn’t love her, he is an immensely practical man, but he can’t explain even to himself why he pursues her so relentlessly, even after she rejected his suit. Twice.
Nell likes the handsome former soldier, but she has a secret that makes her ineligible for marriage. She can’t marry anyone, least of all Harry. She likes him too much.
The two play a game of cat and mouse, with many droll moments and quirky situations, and Nell’s secret adds a poignant emotional brew to the already complex love story. And the characters are so lovely, both of them, so potent and alive and contradictory.
A charming tale from start to finish.
In this regency romance, Harry is a bastard son of an earl. He served in the Wellington army for eight years, but now the war is finally over. Having inherited some money from his late great-aunt, Harry buys the estate of Firmin Court, where he plans to breed racing horses. He also asks his aunt to find him a practical, middle-class bride. He doesn’t want love. He wants stability.
Lady Helen, Nell to her friends, grew up at Firmin Court, but her late father lost it and everything else in a game of cards before he killed himself. Now, Nell is destitute and must leave the only home she ever knew.
The two meet briefly, by accident, but Harry can’t push Nell out of his mind. Every potential bride his aunt parades before him lacks in comparison to Nell. When he sees Nell again, their encounter is unexpected and explosive, and he wouldn’t rest until she accepts his marriage proposal. Of course, he doesn’t love her, he is an immensely practical man, but he can’t explain even to himself why he pursues her so relentlessly, even after she rejected his suit. Twice.
Nell likes the handsome former soldier, but she has a secret that makes her ineligible for marriage. She can’t marry anyone, least of all Harry. She likes him too much.
The two play a game of cat and mouse, with many droll moments and quirky situations, and Nell’s secret adds a poignant emotional brew to the already complex love story. And the characters are so lovely, both of them, so potent and alive and contradictory.
A charming tale from start to finish.
June 10, 2015
Reread. Liked it just as well the second time. I liked this. The first half was a bit better than the back half but it wasn't terribly noticable. I liked the way that the characters did not keep secrets from each other. And the secret the heroine had was a doozy. It's nice to see an author take that scenario of the woman having an illegitimate child and make it not the big secret. The hero was quite heroic here, marrying her anyway and helping her look for the child who had been stolen away. I quite enjoyed it.
Originally read 9/28/2010
Originally read 9/28/2010
August 25, 2017
Harry non poté distogliere gli occhi da quelli della donna. Erano del colore dello sherry. Fermi e trasparenti: era come guardare le acque pure e profonde di un lago in mezzo a una foresta, rese scure dal tannino delle foglie cadute.
Divorò con gli occhi il viso dalla pelle pallida come la luna, e le labbra bagnate di pioggia, leggermente socchiuse, mentre lei gli restituiva lo sguardo. Era abbastanza vicino da distinguere ogni goccia sulle lunghe ciglia scure, e provò il bisogno di assaggiarne una.
L'incipit di questo romanzo è stato per me un vero colpo di fulmine.
Questo carretto che trasposta una donna sconosciuta, affranta, infangata, eppure piena di dignità e bellissima nelle sue condizioni miserevoli.
Capisco perchè Harry non sia più riuscito a dimenticarla.
Poi il romanzo assume quasi i contorni di una fiaba, anche se in realtà i due sono entrambi dei reietti sociali che hanno bisogno di costruire il loro piccolo angolo di paradiso per sfuggire a un passato deprimente e a una realtà parecchio dura.
Ho trovato deliziosa e tenera anche la storia parallela che riprende due personaggi del volume precedente, conducendo anche loro - finalmente - alla felicità.
Ok, è di certo un libro molto dolce, ma non per questo meno avvincente.
Io l'ho letto senza staccarmi, in compagnia di un grande sorriso estatico. Quindi per me è senza dubbio una bella lettura che consiglio. Per dire: sono subito corsa a leggere il primo volume, perchè mi piace troppo come scrive quest'autrice.
Divorò con gli occhi il viso dalla pelle pallida come la luna, e le labbra bagnate di pioggia, leggermente socchiuse, mentre lei gli restituiva lo sguardo. Era abbastanza vicino da distinguere ogni goccia sulle lunghe ciglia scure, e provò il bisogno di assaggiarne una.
L'incipit di questo romanzo è stato per me un vero colpo di fulmine.
Questo carretto che trasposta una donna sconosciuta, affranta, infangata, eppure piena di dignità e bellissima nelle sue condizioni miserevoli.
Capisco perchè Harry non sia più riuscito a dimenticarla.
Poi il romanzo assume quasi i contorni di una fiaba, anche se in realtà i due sono entrambi dei reietti sociali che hanno bisogno di costruire il loro piccolo angolo di paradiso per sfuggire a un passato deprimente e a una realtà parecchio dura.
Ho trovato deliziosa e tenera anche la storia parallela che riprende due personaggi del volume precedente, conducendo anche loro - finalmente - alla felicità.
Ok, è di certo un libro molto dolce, ma non per questo meno avvincente.
Io l'ho letto senza staccarmi, in compagnia di un grande sorriso estatico. Quindi per me è senza dubbio una bella lettura che consiglio. Per dire: sono subito corsa a leggere il primo volume, perchè mi piace troppo come scrive quest'autrice.
March 19, 2015
Oh my goodness. Bring the hankies for this one. When I thought I didn't have anymore tears left, Mrs. Gracie squeezes out some more.
I don't even know what to say about this one. I didn't totally love the first in this series, but this hits all the spots. It's the second one in series. One heart wrenching scene was just so painful. There are many heart wrenching moments here.
Anne Gracie is one of those authors that when she is on, she is on. And she can get all the emotions out of me. Some of her books are so witty and funny and then you hit a spot and tear up. Its a gift.
And I love every minute of a book that can make me feel.
Still misty eyed. *sniff
I don't even know what to say about this one. I didn't totally love the first in this series, but this hits all the spots. It's the second one in series. One heart wrenching scene was just so painful. There are many heart wrenching moments here.
Anne Gracie is one of those authors that when she is on, she is on. And she can get all the emotions out of me. Some of her books are so witty and funny and then you hit a spot and tear up. Its a gift.
And I love every minute of a book that can make me feel.
Still misty eyed. *sniff
May 11, 2015
Genteeeee
APAIXONADA por essa autora!
Tãooo lindo!
Harry, o meio irmão do Gabe (do primeiro livro da série) já sofreu tanto preconceito, já está escaldado!
Ele vê uma mulher no vento frio, desabrigada, linda, e pensa: por que não se casar com ela? ahahahaah
Ele pediu para a Tia Maude achar uma mulher de boa família, de classe mediana, educada, sem gostos, sem abrir a boca, sem graça e chata, mas ao invés disso, a vida jogou uma mulher com nome, sem posses, educada, orgulhosa, que não quer se casar com ele!
A vida é uma caixinha de surpresa mesmo!
Ele promete comprometimento, fidelidade, mas sem romance e muito menos amor! Mas se não é amor o que tem por ela, eu não imagino o que seja!
APAIXONADA por essa autora!
Tãooo lindo!
Harry, o meio irmão do Gabe (do primeiro livro da série) já sofreu tanto preconceito, já está escaldado!
Ele vê uma mulher no vento frio, desabrigada, linda, e pensa: por que não se casar com ela? ahahahaah
Ele pediu para a Tia Maude achar uma mulher de boa família, de classe mediana, educada, sem gostos, sem abrir a boca, sem graça e chata, mas ao invés disso, a vida jogou uma mulher com nome, sem posses, educada, orgulhosa, que não quer se casar com ele!
A vida é uma caixinha de surpresa mesmo!
Ele promete comprometimento, fidelidade, mas sem romance e muito menos amor! Mas se não é amor o que tem por ela, eu não imagino o que seja!
February 23, 2009
This book is what The Stolen Princess could/should have been - strong heroine with recent horror in her life but getting up each day and dealing with it every way she can; strong hero who had a more-than-miserable childhood but is still a good man, and a storyline that makes the most of these two great people. This is a beautifully written, tender love story of two people who have been starved for love and affection.
July 5, 2019
I’m currently re-reading favourite HRs. To my mind, this is one of the best Gracie has ever written and it certainly captivated me.
The hero is steadfast, empathetic and gorgeous. His past is marred by abandonment, violence, treachery and loss, but he is able to love and be loved because he was rescued by a loving couple, a half-brother and two other members of his birth family.
The heroine is courageous and loyal and passionate about finding her “lost” child. Her past is also tragic, in part because of the failings of her feckless father, but also because she has been forced to endure violence and abandonment and grievous loss. (That may seem a bad spoiler, but the reader is quickly made aware of these details.)
This book is part of a series and so Gracie’s cast is large. Unlike another reviewer, that didn’t worry me at all. I also don’t share her irritation with the secondary romance. In fact, I consider it a useful counterpoint to what otherwise could have become a uniformly melodramatic tale. I don’t even mind the very obvious “flags” to other stories in the series - even though that usually annoys me.
Another plot device that often annoys me is badly executed sex scenes. Gracie certainly provides plenty of references to the hero’s almost constant state of arousal, almost from the moment that he meets the heroine - and that usually irritates the heck out of me. In this case, it doesn’t. Why? Because it is accompanied by his emotional responses - his care of the heroine, his rigid control, his awareness that he must not rush her and that any sexual union must not happen unless she is in control. So the first time they make love is sensual and intense. (In my view, it provides a good tutorial to other HR authors about how to write a great sex scene.)
Anyone who reads loads of contemporary HRs knows that too many are formulaic in ways that is deadenly dull. While Gracie follows the formula very successfully, right through to the requisite HEA, she does it with style. She offers a lovely primary romance, a sweet secondary one, a heavy dose of tragedy, some humour (and even the occasional witticism), as well as a plot that is sufficiently “different” to make this a HR worthy of recommendation.
Addendum
Just found my review on Amazon of some years ago, after my first read of this title:
The review by Abbie84 well describes what I found entrancing about this romance, particularly the emotional threads that are out of the ordinary - how the love of foster parents, the kindness of strangers, the H's aunts, the love and support between adult males (plus much more positivity) counterbalance the blatant cruelty of the H's father and the selfishness/careless regard of the h's father.
In His Captive Lady (Devil Riders Book 2) Anne Gracie has created a H (Harry) who is a complex mix of Alpha/insecure/smitten, a h (Nell) who is brave/loyal/sad, a collection of side characters who add strength and complexity and a secondary romance that is gorgeous (with letters that are downright lovely).
Gracie knows her craft and, in this case has delivered a story that is well plotted and suspenseful, with the added bonus of being a blend of erotic and romantic. In the latter case, I found it a delight to read of a H who actually puts his feelings for the h before his sex drive - it seems to me that nowadays HR do most men a disservice by presenting them as little more than a throbbing phallus. Harry is so much more than that and it is this which makes him memorable. And Nell is memorable as well, indomitable in her quest for her daughter, as well as being courageous as she struggles to overcome her fears of a physical relationship. Five stars.
The hero is steadfast, empathetic and gorgeous. His past is marred by abandonment, violence, treachery and loss, but he is able to love and be loved because he was rescued by a loving couple, a half-brother and two other members of his birth family.
The heroine is courageous and loyal and passionate about finding her “lost” child. Her past is also tragic, in part because of the failings of her feckless father, but also because she has been forced to endure violence and abandonment and grievous loss. (That may seem a bad spoiler, but the reader is quickly made aware of these details.)
This book is part of a series and so Gracie’s cast is large. Unlike another reviewer, that didn’t worry me at all. I also don’t share her irritation with the secondary romance. In fact, I consider it a useful counterpoint to what otherwise could have become a uniformly melodramatic tale. I don’t even mind the very obvious “flags” to other stories in the series - even though that usually annoys me.
Another plot device that often annoys me is badly executed sex scenes. Gracie certainly provides plenty of references to the hero’s almost constant state of arousal, almost from the moment that he meets the heroine - and that usually irritates the heck out of me. In this case, it doesn’t. Why? Because it is accompanied by his emotional responses - his care of the heroine, his rigid control, his awareness that he must not rush her and that any sexual union must not happen unless she is in control. So the first time they make love is sensual and intense. (In my view, it provides a good tutorial to other HR authors about how to write a great sex scene.)
Anyone who reads loads of contemporary HRs knows that too many are formulaic in ways that is deadenly dull. While Gracie follows the formula very successfully, right through to the requisite HEA, she does it with style. She offers a lovely primary romance, a sweet secondary one, a heavy dose of tragedy, some humour (and even the occasional witticism), as well as a plot that is sufficiently “different” to make this a HR worthy of recommendation.
Addendum
Just found my review on Amazon of some years ago, after my first read of this title:
The review by Abbie84 well describes what I found entrancing about this romance, particularly the emotional threads that are out of the ordinary - how the love of foster parents, the kindness of strangers, the H's aunts, the love and support between adult males (plus much more positivity) counterbalance the blatant cruelty of the H's father and the selfishness/careless regard of the h's father.
In His Captive Lady (Devil Riders Book 2) Anne Gracie has created a H (Harry) who is a complex mix of Alpha/insecure/smitten, a h (Nell) who is brave/loyal/sad, a collection of side characters who add strength and complexity and a secondary romance that is gorgeous (with letters that are downright lovely).
Gracie knows her craft and, in this case has delivered a story that is well plotted and suspenseful, with the added bonus of being a blend of erotic and romantic. In the latter case, I found it a delight to read of a H who actually puts his feelings for the h before his sex drive - it seems to me that nowadays HR do most men a disservice by presenting them as little more than a throbbing phallus. Harry is so much more than that and it is this which makes him memorable. And Nell is memorable as well, indomitable in her quest for her daughter, as well as being courageous as she struggles to overcome her fears of a physical relationship. Five stars.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 7, 2009
Anne Gracie’s His Captive Lady was such a wonderful read! I adore all of Anne’s books and she is one of my favorite historical romance authors. Her latest may not have an invisible women running around causing problems, but there is a young woman who must find her missing baby stolen by her father. Helen Freymore reminded me so much of Tess Durbeyfield from the Thomas Hardy classic, Tess of the D’Urbervilles. Poor Helen has been through so much. Not only was she raped by a former associate of her father’s, but her infant daughter, who she loves more than her own life, is taken away from the one person she always looked up to. Now with her father dead and gone and her home auctioned away because of his debt, Helen has a choice to either give into despair or rise above it all, find work and continue looking for her missing daughter.
The first time Harry Morant notices Helen, he thinks of her as a, “drowning Madonna” because Helen is stuck in the rain looking up at the sky in awe. From the moment on, Harry decides to help Helen in any way he can even though she doesn’t want his help. Harry falls hard for the somewhat naïve yet tenacious Helen. Harry wants to marry her, to take care of her and make sure there is no more sadness or tears in her eyes. For some reason that Harry cannot understand, Helen won’t let him help her. She thinks she is not good enough for Harry because of what has happened to her. Why would a man like Harry want a damaged woman with an illegitimate daughter like herself when he can have any woman he wants?
Harry is able to bring Helen around to his way of thinking, mainly by kissing her into submission. And when Helen finally tells Harry what she has been through, Harry rises in my opinion as one of my favorite heroes this year. Harry is a simple man, with simple needs. When he sees Helen, he can’t get her out of his mind. She may not be, “beautiful, nor voluptuously built, and she certainly employs no arts to attract. But he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.” I love when the hero falls for the heroine just because he finds something special about her to him. She is not a raving beauty or is intelligent to the point she can give the hero a good argument. Helen is the complete opposite of most heroines I have read lately. When first introduced to Helen I found her a bit off, perhaps a bit slow in her thinking. But instead, I see her as a fragile little bird, much like a sparrow who may not survive in the worst of situations but is still strong enough not to succumb to defeat. Helen certainly doesn’t succumb to the odds against her and once Harry is in her corner, things begin to look up.
Anne Gracie builds up sexual tension quite well between this couple, because sex is not a quick answer, especially because of what has happened to Helen. Harry is understanding and so very noble. He is a tad tortured in his thinking because he doesn’t think he deserves love, but when Helen admits her love for him without one word from him in return, those love scenes almost brought a tear to my eye. His Captive Lady is sweet, endearing and an overall lovely read. If there is one historical romance you read this fall season, it should be His Captive Lady
The first time Harry Morant notices Helen, he thinks of her as a, “drowning Madonna” because Helen is stuck in the rain looking up at the sky in awe. From the moment on, Harry decides to help Helen in any way he can even though she doesn’t want his help. Harry falls hard for the somewhat naïve yet tenacious Helen. Harry wants to marry her, to take care of her and make sure there is no more sadness or tears in her eyes. For some reason that Harry cannot understand, Helen won’t let him help her. She thinks she is not good enough for Harry because of what has happened to her. Why would a man like Harry want a damaged woman with an illegitimate daughter like herself when he can have any woman he wants?
Harry is able to bring Helen around to his way of thinking, mainly by kissing her into submission. And when Helen finally tells Harry what she has been through, Harry rises in my opinion as one of my favorite heroes this year. Harry is a simple man, with simple needs. When he sees Helen, he can’t get her out of his mind. She may not be, “beautiful, nor voluptuously built, and she certainly employs no arts to attract. But he couldn’t take his eyes off of her.” I love when the hero falls for the heroine just because he finds something special about her to him. She is not a raving beauty or is intelligent to the point she can give the hero a good argument. Helen is the complete opposite of most heroines I have read lately. When first introduced to Helen I found her a bit off, perhaps a bit slow in her thinking. But instead, I see her as a fragile little bird, much like a sparrow who may not survive in the worst of situations but is still strong enough not to succumb to defeat. Helen certainly doesn’t succumb to the odds against her and once Harry is in her corner, things begin to look up.
Anne Gracie builds up sexual tension quite well between this couple, because sex is not a quick answer, especially because of what has happened to Helen. Harry is understanding and so very noble. He is a tad tortured in his thinking because he doesn’t think he deserves love, but when Helen admits her love for him without one word from him in return, those love scenes almost brought a tear to my eye. His Captive Lady is sweet, endearing and an overall lovely read. If there is one historical romance you read this fall season, it should be His Captive Lady
June 19, 2010
I'd never have thought that a novel focused on a heroine who has been raped and is searching for her lost baby daughter could be so airy and enchanting. It is that--and more.
The hero, Harry Morant, is just the right blend of commanding alpha male and kind-hearted beta. I just adored him. Even though I cringed at some of his clueless moves, his heart is so full of goodwill that I cheered him on anyway. His unfortunate romantic history and his "bastard" status made me root for him all the more.
The penniless heroine, Lady Helen Freymore, is utterly sympathetic. She finds hope in hopeless circumstances and is dedicated to finding her baby, no matter the physical and mental cost to herself. Nothing matters to her more than protecting her child.
The chemistry between the two main characters is magnetic, and I can't recall the last time I finished a book so satisfied that the hero and heroine were destined for a life of bliss.
All that, and I liked the author's writing style as well: simple, yet expressive. Gracie paints vibrant pictures of the characters--main and secondary--without weighing down the story.
As a lover of fantasy, I haven't read many romances that don't feature supernatural creatures or otherworldly settings. Maybe I've been missing out.
The hero, Harry Morant, is just the right blend of commanding alpha male and kind-hearted beta. I just adored him. Even though I cringed at some of his clueless moves, his heart is so full of goodwill that I cheered him on anyway. His unfortunate romantic history and his "bastard" status made me root for him all the more.
The penniless heroine, Lady Helen Freymore, is utterly sympathetic. She finds hope in hopeless circumstances and is dedicated to finding her baby, no matter the physical and mental cost to herself. Nothing matters to her more than protecting her child.
The chemistry between the two main characters is magnetic, and I can't recall the last time I finished a book so satisfied that the hero and heroine were destined for a life of bliss.
All that, and I liked the author's writing style as well: simple, yet expressive. Gracie paints vibrant pictures of the characters--main and secondary--without weighing down the story.
As a lover of fantasy, I haven't read many romances that don't feature supernatural creatures or otherworldly settings. Maybe I've been missing out.
November 20, 2010
Ugh, it was meh.
April 25, 2016
Loved it and loved the characters. Especially loved the banter between the Devil Riders and Harry and his Aunt.
June 28, 2015
i am addicted to this authors romance novels. This story contains all the right elements for a highly entertaining read.
December 23, 2023
2.5. This book was unspectacular. I found the couple’s chemistry lacking and thought the missing baby subplot was drawn out too long. I would have loved to have had a portion of the book devoted to the trials and tribulations of becoming a family rather than spending more than 3/4 of the book looking and having everything be perfect immediately after the child was found.
The Hero was stalwart and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when she finally let him step in and fix everything. Outside of being a fixer though, he was overall pretty bland.
The heroine on the other hand was too meek for my taste and often refused to help herself. Her whole character just felt like trauma porn and it annoyed me. Her whole family was dead, she had no house, no money, she was a sexual assault victim, she birthed her abuser’s baby, she lost the baby because her father stole it and gave it to some unknown person, she collapsed on the freezing streets trying to find the baby, she was verbally abused by her employer, she sleepwalked every night driven by her guilt, she constantly refused to eat or take care of herself. By the end of the book, I just couldn’t take it anymore.
The Hero was stalwart and it made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside when she finally let him step in and fix everything. Outside of being a fixer though, he was overall pretty bland.
The heroine on the other hand was too meek for my taste and often refused to help herself. Her whole character just felt like trauma porn and it annoyed me. Her whole family was dead, she had no house, no money, she was a sexual assault victim, she birthed her abuser’s baby, she lost the baby because her father stole it and gave it to some unknown person, she collapsed on the freezing streets trying to find the baby, she was verbally abused by her employer, she sleepwalked every night driven by her guilt, she constantly refused to eat or take care of herself. By the end of the book, I just couldn’t take it anymore.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 7, 2017
leído en Agost 2011
4.5 estrellas
Me gustó muchísimo!!
4.5 estrellas
Me gustó muchísimo!!
November 12, 2023
4.25 stars
February 21, 2020
Uno más en una lista interminable de libros de época que están bien pero no resaltan.
Tenemos a una protagonista noble que lo ha perdido todo y a un prota que viene con un buen momento económico y se hace con la finca y tierras de ella.
Lo mejor del libro sin duda es que es bastante original -dentro del propio cliché de trama- y que está bien escrito. Tiene una prosa sencilla, bien narrada, que te mete bastante en la historia y te hace conocer a los personajes y circunstancias.
Lo que menos, quizá, es que es poco memorable. Su historia es bastante básica y no hay un gran amor ahí. El matrimonio al principio es sólo una herramienta, y conforme pasan las hojas resulta que se han enamorado locamente pero en verdad tampoco sabes por qué. No hay nada épico, ni que te atrape para enamorarte de estos personajes. Al menos no de los protagonistas. Porque a mí la yegua me encantó. Y creo que precisamente que me gustara más el caballo lo dice todo.
Tenemos a una protagonista noble que lo ha perdido todo y a un prota que viene con un buen momento económico y se hace con la finca y tierras de ella.
Lo mejor del libro sin duda es que es bastante original -dentro del propio cliché de trama- y que está bien escrito. Tiene una prosa sencilla, bien narrada, que te mete bastante en la historia y te hace conocer a los personajes y circunstancias.
Lo que menos, quizá, es que es poco memorable. Su historia es bastante básica y no hay un gran amor ahí. El matrimonio al principio es sólo una herramienta, y conforme pasan las hojas resulta que se han enamorado locamente pero en verdad tampoco sabes por qué. No hay nada épico, ni que te atrape para enamorarte de estos personajes. Al menos no de los protagonistas. Porque a mí la yegua me encantó. Y creo que precisamente que me gustara más el caballo lo dice todo.
August 2, 2016
Is it a surprise that I still keep on saying the same thing?...No, so of course I'm gonna say I loved it.
Harry was an amazing hero, with all his cute persistence toward Nell, how he accepted everything about her, how he felt broken every time he say her hurting, simply he was great in every aspect.
Nell was a cute heroin in her small way, most of the story she was grieving, worried and scared. but she had her cute moments as well, like when she arrived at the doorstep of Harry's aunt house and the butler opened the door, and she was acting all normal and stuff it was hilarious.
I noticed couple of things in this story:
1- Both the main characters broke my heart, I have to say that Nell's situation wasn't something easy or ignored and its certainly heartbreaking, but truthfully Harry is the one I felt sorry for most. For the big picture, he showed he wasn't loved, wasn't wanted and stuff.
2- There is a kind of repetition from the first book, like when the heroin is already in love with the her then a character comes and saying the hero doesn't get it cause he didn't keep his promise to you, this happened to both brothers.
3- And of course I loved the side story, Tippy was cute, and Ethan was really... how do I say..chivalrous, and maybe I didn't like the scene with the masks, but I liked the Conversation that happened between them when they left.
4- Loved the scene at the end with Harry taking care of Torie, dressing her, bathing her, and feeding her, specially when she was about to cry he said it was blackmail, it was the most adorable thing ever, all his scenes with Torie where adorable, and his scene wit her and Marcus, in a way it was nice.
5- Oh yeah, also his scene at the fight when Harry said "brothers" that really gt to me, but also it made me laugh when they said that Nash tried to protect Harry by pushing him behind him, "which disgusted Harry" I kept on flipping side ways on my bed laughing, Harry was disgusted with the brotherly act XD
6- I felt really bad for Aunt Maude, and she really got to me, if it was left to the women in her family or even the men will acknowledge it, she is the embodiment of women's strength.
I guess that's all so far XD so overall *thumps up*
Harry was an amazing hero, with all his cute persistence toward Nell, how he accepted everything about her, how he felt broken every time he say her hurting, simply he was great in every aspect.
Nell was a cute heroin in her small way, most of the story she was grieving, worried and scared. but she had her cute moments as well, like when she arrived at the doorstep of Harry's aunt house and the butler opened the door, and she was acting all normal and stuff it was hilarious.
I noticed couple of things in this story:
1- Both the main characters broke my heart, I have to say that Nell's situation wasn't something easy or ignored and its certainly heartbreaking, but truthfully Harry is the one I felt sorry for most. For the big picture, he showed he wasn't loved, wasn't wanted and stuff.
2- There is a kind of repetition from the first book, like when the heroin is already in love with the her then a character comes and saying the hero doesn't get it cause he didn't keep his promise to you, this happened to both brothers.
3- And of course I loved the side story, Tippy was cute, and Ethan was really... how do I say..chivalrous, and maybe I didn't like the scene with the masks, but I liked the Conversation that happened between them when they left.
4- Loved the scene at the end with Harry taking care of Torie, dressing her, bathing her, and feeding her, specially when she was about to cry he said it was blackmail, it was the most adorable thing ever, all his scenes with Torie where adorable, and his scene wit her and Marcus, in a way it was nice.
5- Oh yeah, also his scene at the fight when Harry said "brothers" that really gt to me, but also it made me laugh when they said that Nash tried to protect Harry by pushing him behind him, "which disgusted Harry" I kept on flipping side ways on my bed laughing, Harry was disgusted with the brotherly act XD
6- I felt really bad for Aunt Maude, and she really got to me, if it was left to the women in her family or even the men will acknowledge it, she is the embodiment of women's strength.
I guess that's all so far XD so overall *thumps up*
October 24, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5 Stars) I'm Captivated by This Scoundrel!
Oh, Anne Gracie, you are a treasure for historical romance, and His Captive Lady truly shines! I am happily rating this a full 4 stars because it delivers all the heart, heat, and humor a Regency reader could ask for.
It's the story of Captain Harry Morant, a war hero with a scarred heart and a practical plan for a marriage without messy emotions. His plans get completely derailed, of course, when he finds the mysterious Lady Helen Freymore, or Nell, in his stables, helping a sick horse. You know it is going to be good when the hero is captivated by a lady's competence with a beast!
Nell is dealing with a lifetime of lies and a monumental secret that threatens to ruin her. She is strong, resourceful, and desperate to reclaim her life. Harry, the illegitimate but wealthy son of an earl, sees beyond her shabby clothes and her secrets, recognizing the goodness and fire in her soul. He is surprisingly gentle and incredibly protective, making him an absolute darling of a hero. The "captive" part is a charming stretch, as Nell is more captivated than imprisoned, but the chemistry is electric. Anne Gracie has this gift for making you feel the emotional journey. I was completely invested in Harry and Nell's journey of learning to trust each other with their deepest fears and hidden truths.
It is a warm, witty, and deeply satisfying read that I highly recommend
Oh, Anne Gracie, you are a treasure for historical romance, and His Captive Lady truly shines! I am happily rating this a full 4 stars because it delivers all the heart, heat, and humor a Regency reader could ask for.
It's the story of Captain Harry Morant, a war hero with a scarred heart and a practical plan for a marriage without messy emotions. His plans get completely derailed, of course, when he finds the mysterious Lady Helen Freymore, or Nell, in his stables, helping a sick horse. You know it is going to be good when the hero is captivated by a lady's competence with a beast!
Nell is dealing with a lifetime of lies and a monumental secret that threatens to ruin her. She is strong, resourceful, and desperate to reclaim her life. Harry, the illegitimate but wealthy son of an earl, sees beyond her shabby clothes and her secrets, recognizing the goodness and fire in her soul. He is surprisingly gentle and incredibly protective, making him an absolute darling of a hero. The "captive" part is a charming stretch, as Nell is more captivated than imprisoned, but the chemistry is electric. Anne Gracie has this gift for making you feel the emotional journey. I was completely invested in Harry and Nell's journey of learning to trust each other with their deepest fears and hidden truths.
It is a warm, witty, and deeply satisfying read that I highly recommend
October 28, 2008
This was a very enjoyable romance! I liked how mutual respect turned to caring then turned to love. This is the best hero character I've come across for some time.
I am finding that Anne Gracie is rather a stealth author for me. She slips under the radar and is not as well-known and appreciated as she should be. Her books are emotionally deep and her characterizations are charming. I would compare them to Mary Balogh or Julia Quinn. If you like those authors, you should give her books a try.
I am finding that Anne Gracie is rather a stealth author for me. She slips under the radar and is not as well-known and appreciated as she should be. Her books are emotionally deep and her characterizations are charming. I would compare them to Mary Balogh or Julia Quinn. If you like those authors, you should give her books a try.
May 15, 2016
Oh my,
World need more gentleman like Harry Morant
Harry Morant will makes you can't help but falling in love with him
His personality, his kindness..
oh my oh my I'm melting..
and Aunty Maude..
love this old-funny-smart-kind heart granny..
and the heroine Nell
I like the way she protected Harry
but I don't like her when she turned into selfish woman don't care about anything except her lost baby..
and she don't notice but she hurt Harry's heart..
the story is good
even in the middle made me little bored
this story made you laugh hard, smile, cried or warmth your heart
World need more gentleman like Harry Morant
Harry Morant will makes you can't help but falling in love with him
His personality, his kindness..
oh my oh my I'm melting..
and Aunty Maude..
love this old-funny-smart-kind heart granny..
and the heroine Nell
I like the way she protected Harry
but I don't like her when she turned into selfish woman don't care about anything except her lost baby..
and she don't notice but she hurt Harry's heart..
the story is good
even in the middle made me little bored
this story made you laugh hard, smile, cried or warmth your heart
July 17, 2022
As the bastard son of an earl who rejected him, Harry Morant has never felt deserving of love. Now that the war is over and he has received an inheritance from a great-aunt, Harry and his friend Ethan are searching for a property where they can breed thoroughbreds. Lady Nell Freymore has not only just lost her father, but also the estate she thought was hers, since he gambled it away. Harry is irresistibly drawn to Nell, but she has a single-minded mission of her own. How their story plays out is both fascinating and moving. Recommended.
September 4, 2008
I have been reading Annie Gracie since I stumbled across one of her books years ago while looking for a new author to read. She has a way of making you ache for her characters and their predicaments. So far this Devil Rider series has been particularly good. I'm looking forward to the next and hope it will be about Rafe.
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